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Festive Season death toll on EC roads crisis

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Dear MyPE

The Eastern Cape death toll on the roads over the Festive Season is a sad indictment of a failing ANC government that has neglected its responsibilities.

With the second highest fatalities in the country, the province saw 238 people lose their lives in 195 car accidents. This is up from the previous season, where 213 lives were lost in 173 accidents from 1 December 2017 to 15 January 2018.

It is clear MEC Weziwe Tikana’s intervention strategy has failed to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads. This is simply unacceptable. One life lost is a life too many.

Where is the 24-hour law enforcement that we were promised during her budget speech last year?

I will be submitting questions to the MEC to explain why the 24-hour traffic law enforcement programme has not been implemented, and to request a detailed breakdown on initiatives over the festive season.

The fact that 90% of road deaths over this period have been attributed to human factors is a clear indication of the blatant disregard for the rules of the road.

Traffic officials need to come down hard on unlawful road users whose behaviour puts their own lives and those of others in danger.

People must be given the opportunity to get into a vehicle knowing that there is proper law enforcement on the roads, 24-hours a day.

A safe and secure transport network in this province is critical if we are to have any hope of growing the economy.

The Democratic Alliance is committed to implementing stricter penalties for drivers who disobey the rules of the road and the policing of vehicles, such as those that transport learners, as well as overloaded trucks, in order to reduce road accidents.

Regards

Marshall von Buchenroder

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Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.