Fewer road deaths

A significant decline in road accident fatalities this past Easter weekend confirmed a  successful Arrive Alive campaign in Limpopo, the department of Roads and Transport said in a press statement this week. The province lost 15 lives one of which was a pedestrian.
“While we regret the lost lives, we are encouraged by the general decline in the number of accidents recorded this Easter weekend as well as fatalities,” department spokesperson Joshua Kwapa said.
In 2011 during Easter long weekend the province lost 25 lives, while in 2012, 23 lives were lost. The Department said this year’s decline is an indication that its resolve to ensure safer roads has paid off.
“In the previous year 23 of the 13 lives lost were pedestrians while this year only one pedestrian perished. This major
success was not achieved by accident or luck. It was as a result of a well-coordina- ted traffic management strategy, selfless
sacrifice and hardworking traffic officers and road safety officials.
“These men and women, working under difficult conditions and long hours, toiled hard to ensure that all road users arrive at their various destinations safe. The province’s traffic force was reinforced by our counterparts from the Road Traffic Management Cooperation ensuring high visibility on our major roads,” Kwapa continued.
He added that there was a high reduction of traffic congestion this year which he said was in part because of the agreement the Department struck with bus companies travelling to Zion City, Moria.
The Department had an agreement with bus companies to delay their travelling from Gauteng to Moria. Busses started travelling from midnight on Thursday 28 March. At the time they started their journey to Limpopo light vehicles and minibus taxis had already made their way into the province which resulted in overall traffic reduction.
What the department, however couldn’t control, was the large volumes of migratory workers returning from Zimbabwe at the end of Easter Weekend.
On Monday SABC news reported heavy traffic volumes that were recorded on the N1 South between Musina and Makhado. These vehicles joined the stream of Zionists heading for Gauteng on the N1.
But the fact that school children are still on holiday offered some reprieve.
“It must be noted that this year’s Easter weekend did not coincide with the beginning of school holidays. This had a major impact in traffic reduction,” the department’s statement concluded.