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The Eastern Cape Transport Department said 26 people lost their lives and many more sustained injuries in 17 road accidents reported over the Black Friday weekend across the Eastern Cape.
“Alarmingly, pedestrians accounted for seven of the 26 people who died with passengers and drivers accounted for 14 and five respectively,” said Department spokesperson, Unathi Binqose.
He said reckless and negligent driving, as well as speeding and incidents of driving under the influence of alcohol, stand out as the main contributing factors in almost each of these accidents.
Eastern Cape Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe has described the weekend’s road fatalities as a grim reminder that driver behaviour can be a difference between life and death on our roads.
“The fact that we have lost so many of our people, most of in the prime of their lives is something of great concern to me. And, the fact that so many died from head-on collisions which by their nature point to reckless and negligent driving is of even greater concern,” she said.
MEC Tikana-Gxothiwe said the Eastern Cape was gearing up for what promises to be a very busy Festive Season on the roads, adding that law enforcement officers will be out in numbers as high traffic volumes are expected.
