At least 91 people have died and over 275 others were injured in road crashes involving trucks and buses on South African roads so far this year, according to the Road Traffic Management Authority.
The Authority warned on Monday that bus and truck operators should obey traffic rules or face ''severe consequences.''
''Regulations impose duties on the operators to exercise control over their vehicles and drivers while on public roads. This includes the responsibility to ensure that vehicles are in a roadworthy state and drivers are fit and proper to operate those vehicles," said RTMC spokesman Simon Zwane.
He said the failure to execute these responsibilities could result in the cancellation of operator permits with severe consequences for businesses concerned.
The warning comes after the death of 27 people in a horrific accident along the N1 in Limpopo on Friday when the driver of a cement truck lost control and crashed into four vehicles, including a 22-seater midi-bus.
One of the vehicles burst into flames on impact. Four people survived the crash and were taken to hospitals.
Zwane said the human factor had been identified as a contributing factor in the majority of crashes.
- African News Agency (ANA)
