MEDIA STATEMENT

SUMMER HOLIDAY ROAD AND TRAFFIC UPDATE

In the past 24 hours KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) Officers arrested 18 drunk drivers, removed 33 un-roadworthy vehicles from the roads and charged motorists for 1 242 various traffic offences.

In a special operation on the N3 at the Mooi River Toll Plaza from 16h00 to 00H00 last night, officers from the Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU), a specialized unit within RTI that specifically targets public transport vehicles such as taxis and buses, arrested 21 minibus-taxi drivers and 1 bus driver for not having operating permits, 5 drivers for drinking and driving, 15 vehicles were suspended for being un-roadworthy and motorists were charged for 73 other traffic offences.

Since December 1 to 19 December 2003, RTI Officers charged motorists for a total of 24 459 various traffic offences, suspended 580 un-roadworthy vehicles, arrested 351 drivers, worked a total of 41 340 hours, of which 15 954 were overtime hours and patrolled a total of 292 009 kilometres. 206 drunk drivers have been arrested so far as compared to 71 drunk drivers arrested last year for the period December 1 to January 14. 197 drivers have appeared at the Cato Ridge Roadside Court, mostly for speeding offences.

As part of Operation Juggernaut from 9 November to 19 December 2003, 104 779 vehicles were stopped and checked, 885 drivers have been arrested for various offences ranging from drunk driving to speed, 1 202 vehicles were suspended for being un-roadworthy and motorists were charged for more than 30 000 various other traffic offences.

Traffic volumes yesterday peaked at about 2 000 vehicles per hour. For the period 1 to 13 December 2003, a total of 104 074 vehicles were recorded heading south at the Mooi River Toll Plaza and 221 376 vehicles at the Marianhill Toll Plaza. During this period on the N3 at Van Reenens Pass an average of 84% of drivers exceeded the prescribed speed of 80 kilometres per hour and an average of 15% failed to adhere to the recommended two second following distance. On the N2 at Winklespruit an average of 19% of drivers exceeded the 120 kilometres per hour speed limit and 22% did not stick to the two second following distance. 

Meanwhile, since 1 December 84 people (15 drivers, 22 passengers and 47 pedestrians) have been killed on the province's roads with 15 killed on national roads, 10 on provincial roads, 6 on district roads and 53 on municipal streets. 293 people were killed on KZN roads in 2002, 149 in 2001, 158 in 2000 and 162 in 1999. 

In the past 24 hours 13 people have been killed in three separate crashes in KZN. In the first crash, which occurred at 03h45 this morning, 5 people (including the driver) were killed when the bus they were travelling in overturned on the P271 between Mahamba and Bhadeni near Paulpietersburg. Twelve people sustained serious injuries and 83 minor injuries. The injured were taken to Vryheid Hospital. The bus had about 100 passengers on board but was only permitted to carry 87 passengers. The bus belonged to Nkosi Bus Transport in Paulpietersburg. Initial investigations and inspection of the bus revealed that the brake boosters on the rear axle were removed. This is an indication of irresponsible operator activities. The bus was impounded for further inspection and investigation.

The second crash occurred at about 09h30 this morning when the driver of a 4x4 colt bakkie apparently lost control and went into a river on the P284 at Dumazulu location near Port Edward. Six people were killed, two people sustained serious injuries and three minor injuries. The driver of this bakkie was conveying 16 passengers and was overloaded. The injured were admitted to Port Shepstone hospital.

In the third incident on the R74 near Oliviershoek at about 18H00 last night, two people were killed, one person seriously injured and six people sustained slight injuries, when the driver of a Toyota Venture tried to avoid a vehicle in front of him that lost control due to an oil patch. The Venture then left the road and plunged about 25 metres down an embankment.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele has congratulated law enforcement officers for their commitment and hard work thus far towards saving lives on our roads this festive season. At the same time Ndebele has reminded road users that road safety is everybody's responsibility. "We are hopeful that our road safety plan for the festive season will prevent people from acting illegally, irresponsibly and recklessly on our roads. However, people must realize that they are ultimately responsible for the outcome of their actions and the lives of their loved ones whilst on the roads. We can only ensure that we control the road environment to a certain extent", Ndebele said.

Ndebele has also once again urged motorists to support the National Minister of Transport, Dr Dullah Omar's call for drivers' to switch on their headlamps when travelling during the day in order to create more visibility all-round as a means to reduce deaths on our roads this festive season. According to research, driving with your headlamps on during the day can reduce the chances of road crashes significantly. Pedestrians can also see the vehicle from afar. Drivers of vehicles in opposite directions can also see each other from a distance, even when the other driver is not alert enough.

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