While over the festive season road users were reminded of road traffic safety and urged to adhere to rules and recommendations, the worsening state of roads in the Free State arising from insufficient maintenance added to the cause for great concern.
The Road Safety Campaign was found to have little impact on addressing fatalities.
The MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, William Bulwane, had urged motorists to not drink alcohol and drive; to buckle up; to ensure vehicles were roadworthy before traveling; and to rather travel during the day, when visibility is best.
However, in addition to these issues the deterioration of the roads in the province remained a talking point among members of the public. While human error was certainly also to blame, the appalling road conditions appeared too costly.
The Free State again recorded fatal accidents during the festive season.
According to the Department of Transport, fatalities in the Free State were lower this past festive period, while other provinces, such as the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, saw a sharp increase.
In fact, statistics reveal that the number of people who died on roads across the country this just-ended holiday season was worrying.
According to preliminary statistics announced by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, 35% of road fatalities were passengers, 34% pedestrians and 26% drivers, while motorcyclists and bicycle riders each represent 1%. Most fatal crashes happened during the early hours of the morning and early evening, the Department of Transport revealed.
The number of fatalities had marginally declined by 3,1%, from 848 in 2020 to 822 in 2021.
In one fatal accident in the early hours of 18 December, on the R57 between Reitz and Petrus Steyn, 14 people died and three survived with minor serious injuries. The collision involved a Toyota Quantum and Volkswagen Crafter. It is alleged that the Quantum was overtaking another vehicle and collided head-on with the Crafter, travelling from the direction of Reitz.
In another incident, on the morning of 24 December, seven people died and seven survived with injuries after a collision involving a Toyota Quantum and Mercedes High Mobility Van on the R707 near Marquard.
It is alleged that the Mercedes truck was parked facing in the direction of Marquard with its rear wheel in the yellow lane. The Toyota Quantum taxi was travelling in the same direction to Lesotho. It is assumed that the taxi rear-ended the stationary truck.
Road users have voiced serious concerns regarding more than just the appalling condition of road surfaces. Overgrown natural vegetation blocking road signs attests to the neglect of maintenance.
Furthermore, roads signs and markings are invisible on most of the regional roads – making night driving a major risk. This puts both drivers and pedestrians at risk.
As road maintenance plummets to the lowest level in a decade, concerns are that little to no effort has been made to address this.
