Question NW625 to the Minister of Transport
29 March 2017 - NW625
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Transport
With regard to the high accident rate on the N1 between Bela-Bela and Polokwane (a) what was the exact number of accidents in the (i) 2013-14 (ii) 2014-15 (iii) 2015-16 and (iv) 2016-17 financial years, (b) how many people were killed in each financial year, (c) what were the causes of each fatal accident and (d) what actions did her department take to ensure that (i) road users abide by all road rules and (ii) number of fatal accidents is drastically reduced?
Reply:
a) What was the exact number of accidents in
(i) 2013 stats are not available due to technical problems
(ii) 2014 there were 46 fatal crashes
(iii) 2015 there were 81 fatal crashes
(iv) 2016 there were 97 fatal crashes
b) How many people were killed:
2014 there were 83 fatalities, 2015 there were 137 fatalites, 2016 there were 181 fatalities
c) What were the causes:
The accidents mainly caused by single vehicles overturning, sideswipe between vehicle travelling in opposite directions, head-on collisions and collision with pedestrians
d) What did the department do:
(i)(ii) The Department of Transport through its agency (Road Traffic Management Corporation) has ensured the deployment of traffic officers on this road to ensure visible law enforcement. Road safety education is also undertaken to educate road users about safe usage of the road.