Durban — More than 20 drivers were found to have failed to observe the rules of the road, failed to display license discs, failed to carry their driver's licences, and others were found to be operating unroadworthy vehicles during a roadblock on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Tuesday morning, according to the KZN Department of Social Development.
That prompted MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza to call for no mercy for road users who violate rules.
Khoza called on law enforcement authorities to act decisively in dealing with motorists who fail to comply with the rules of the road.
The MEC said that the government would not tolerate drivers who continue to put the lives of other road users at risk.
Khoza was speaking during the roadblock on the N2 in Park Rynie.
Khoza, Ugu District Municipality speaker Sizwe Ngcobo, Umdoni Local Municipality mayor Sibongile Khathi and speaker Mbali Cele-Luthuli, were joined by multi-pronged enforcement agencies to ensure compliance by motorists as they rolled out Transport Month.
The department said that during the roadblock, over 20 drivers were found to have failed to observe the rules of the road, failed to display license discs, failed to carry driver's licences, and others were found to be operating unroadworthy vehicles.
“We want to see all road users comply with all the laws, and traffic police officers should show no mercy to those who deliberately ignore the rules. We are grateful to the Road Traffic Inspectorate for their commitment in dealing with transgressions on roads. The fact that we find few people not complying is an indication that our traffic officers are working hard,” Khoza said.
She said it was important that all road users play their role in minimising road fatalities.
“As we are heading to the festive season, we wish to see no loss of lives as a result of negligence by road users. The most contributing factor to fatal crashes, resulting in the loss of lives, is that of vehicles which are not roadworthy and drivers who drink and drive. When people adhere to all rules of the road, we will realise our mission of being an accident-free province,” Khoza said.
She said it was critical that motorists be encouraged to make alternative transport arrangements if under the influence of alcohol.
Khoza also said that public transport operators had an obligation to protect the lives of passengers all the time. She cited that it will only happen when all transport is roadworthy.
Two weeks ago, a child was one of six people who were killed in a crash on the KZN South Coast on October 10.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance (KZPA) spokesperson Craig Botha said the emergency service responded to the R61 near the Umtamvuna Bridge following reports of a crash.
Botha said that when emergency services arrived, they found that a truck, two bakkies and a car had been involved in a collision.
A bakkie and car had been involved in a severe head-on collision resulting in the occupants becoming entrapped, Botha said.
“Paramedics quickly assessed the scene and found three patients had sustained critical injuries, of which one was a child approximately 10 years old. Two further patients had sustained serious injuries, of which one was a four-year-old child.”
“Sadly, though, six occupants sustained fatal injuries and succumbed to their injuries before emergency services arrived, one of which was a young child,” Botha said.
Daily News