Human error is believed to be the cause of the fatal crashes on the country’s roads. This is according to Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, who was speaking at a mass funeral of 21 people who died in a multi-vehicle accident on the N1 near Mookgophong in Limpopo last week.
Mass funeral service of 21 of the 26 people killed in the #N1Accident last week, is underway at Ben Seraki stadium in Senwabarwana in Limpopo. Hundreds of people in attendance #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/lNxH78SObe
— Shibu Mamokgere (@shiburyder) October 27, 2018
In total 26 people perished in that accident.
Fifty-one people died on the N1 road in Limpopo in just six weeks. Preliminary reports suggest that negligence was the main cause of these fatalities.
Fatigue, speed and overloading are some of the causes of the crashes. With the holiday season approaching, the number of South Africans who die in road accidents is significantly higher than the global average.
Limpopo Traffic Police have confirmed that 2 people have died in a car crash involving two vehicles on the N1 between Kranskop and Nyl Plaza Toll Gates, earlier on Saturday evening. Pics supplied pic.twitter.com/uIKmer2evP
— SABC News Online (@SABCNewsOnline) October 27, 2018
“The nature of the road contributes nothing to these fatal crashes. It is the behaviour of the driver. It is what people do or do not do that leads to the accidents. The accidents happen on public roads and you wonder what to do now,” says Chikunga.
Limpopo’s premier Stan Mathabatha has warned against reckless driving. He’s appealed to motorists to be patient and cautious.
The premier says traffic fatalities are still on the rise despite the drive to reduce the carnage.
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