EASTERN CAPE: The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has announced a strategic intervention to enhance road safety in the Eastern Cape, focusing on reducing road crashes and fatalities as holidaymakers gear up to return to urban areas and workplaces in the coming days.
According to South African Government News Agency, the RTMC’s initiative will include the mobilization of traditional leaders and engagement with public transport operators in a bid to curb the high incidence of crashes and fatalities in the Amathole District, a region identified as one of the top ten districts nationally for road incidents. The district encompasses areas from Idutywa to Fort Beaufort, including towns such as Butterworth and Stutterheim.
The RTMC’s analysis of fatal crash statistics since the start of the festive season has highlighted the involvement of public transport vehicles in many of these incidents. These vehicles often traveled long distances from the Western Cape or Gauteng without adequate rest, contributin
g to fatigue-related crashes. Law enforcers and the South African Taxi Council noted that some drivers did not depart from designated areas during peak travel periods, opting instead for inter-provincial routes to pick up passengers, leading to fatigue at the time of crashes.
The RTMC has also identified other districts requiring attention due to high fatal crash rates, including eThekwini, City of Johannesburg, City of Cape Town, City of Tshwane, Capricorn, Ekurhuleni, Cape Winelands, Vhembe, and Fezile Dabi. With traffic expected to peak again from January 1 to 6, the RTMC plans to intensify law enforcement focus on public transport and increase visibility. A dedicated team will oversee the implementation and progress of these road safety interventions.
Motorists are urged to plan their routes carefully and avoid night travel, as statistics indicate that 37.6% of fatal crashes occur between 18:00 and 01:00 and frequently involve pedestrians, according to the RTMC.