Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Bakwena), which manages the N1N4 toll route, has reported an overall increase of fatal crashes along its route over December 2019 up to the middle of January 2020 period. A total of 16 fatalities were recorded in December, with nine recorded between 1 and 15 January 2020. This despite the increase in visibility of law enforcement along the route, which included roadblocks where vehicles were checked for roadworthiness, overloading as well as drivers being tested for alcohol abuse.
Bakwena continues to partner with Motus Corporation and Hyundai South Africa which saw an additional six patrol vehicles being added to the route to assist with visible policing, crash assistance as well as motorist assistance. Bakwena also works very closely with traffic authorities from Tshwane Metro Police, Limpopo, Gauteng and the North West Provincial traffic authorities in an effort to reduce crashes and fatalities.
Spokesperson for Bakwena, Solomon Kganyago, says that this increase can be attributed to a number of factors such as weather conditions, driver fatigue, reckless driving and not obeying the rules of the road. Multiple fatalities occurred from two crashes, one where a motorist overtook on a double solid white line (five fatalities) and the second crash where a vehicle went across the median and collided with a truck head on, which resulted in six fatalities.
Bakwena implements additional measures over the festive season to assist motorists to plan their journeys to avoid travelling during the peak periods. Various campaigns are rolled out ahead and during the festive period which are aimed at driver behaviour such as the Secure-A-Kid Campaign, carried out in partnership with Wheel Well, an NPO that focuses on children in road safety, as well as COSBI signage (Control of Speed by Illusion) along the route, which is aimed at encouraging drivers to stick to the speed limit and abide by the rules of the road.
Kganyago says they are deeply saddened by the fatalities that took place along their route, and will continue with their efforts to strive for zero fatalities.
“We thank the local authorities, the Department of Transport, maintenance contractors as well as other stakeholders for their ongoing efforts in striving to reduce incidents and fatalities on our country’s roads. We urge motorists to abide by the rules of the road at all times to arrive at their destination safely,” concludes Kganyago.
