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'Stop the carnage'

by
2008-11-14 11:30

Dear Editor,

This letter is aimed at the Minister and all of his cronies at National, Provincial and local government levels, who are responsible for everything to do with roads, law enforcement, driver training and safety

We have just seen an horrific truck accident in Mpumalanga, the second in as many weeks. I can almost guarantee that the weather conditions were bad and that one if not both of those trucks was travelling with no lights on and speeding, as is the norm with the modern trucks.

Now that the rains have arrived, I see that the pot holes that were temporarily repaired last summer have re-emerged. Why were these not repaired during the winter months when there was no rain?

Badly maintained roads will be a cause of some accidents. Introduce "proactive" strategies and do the work instead of talking about it at conferences and other worthless gatherings. All vehicles should travel with the headlights on, not park lights or park and fog lights (And have you noticed how many people drive using their fog lamps as the main lights, and this includes mainly those driving the expensive models - how more stupid can they be?)

All truck drivers should be certified through an approved driving training school. Law enforcement should be just that. No corruption! Un-roadworthy and overloaded trucks should be forcibly removed from the road and hefty fines imposed on the owners.

Do your jobs and let's stop the carnage.

Neall,
Midrand

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Juan 11/14/2008 11:39:43 AM
If they use OUR tax money to make the roads safer, they wouldn't have any for expensive bmw's etc! DUH!
boertjie 11/14/2008 11:41:53 AM
It is funny how quickly the government will insitute a presedential enquiry into mining deaths, it knows it can score cheap political points there, but nothing is done to stop the road carnage. The amount of people killed on the road annually is significantly more than people killed in mining accidents.
Jack 11/14/2008 11:50:36 AM
Ha ha ha? and then you overhear your young and upcoming colleagues talk about buying licenses after the one was boasting that he just bought a house, a Mini Cooper S and, wait for it? A DRIVERS LICENCE! Authorities can?t even stop motorists yacking on their phones. And daily I, as a motorcyclist, must face these hazards on the road.
Jedi 11/14/2008 11:53:36 AM
Human error stop blaming others, you would swear the minister was driving the damn bus. Never in the history of this country has this level of resources been ploughed into infrastructure. Fewer and fewer people are reading the "my letters" column. This particular letter again pays tribute to the constant lavatorial quality of submissions. The shear idiocy, and lack of factual, impirical and grounded research is astounding. This will be my last view here.
Helen 11/14/2008 11:55:05 AM
Sadly the carnage on our roads will continue unless less priority is put on hiding behind trees trapping the money generating drivers and more on getting unroadworthy vehicles off the roads! Taxi drivers with their absolute disregard for the law are some of the major culprits of SA's road murders!
IandI 11/14/2008 11:56:11 AM
Absolutely right.Can the traffic cops start patrolling and checking for unroadworthy vehicles/unlicensed drivers and remove them from our roads,instead of hiding in the bushes speedtrapping.Potholes must be fixed instead of putting up signs all over the country warning"Potholes Ahead!".
Marcel 11/14/2008 11:56:33 AM
Good article; in particular your comment about fog-lights caught my attention - this is my pet hate. People that drive with fog-lights permanently on are either ignorant are arrogant, believing they're "showing off" or they look cool. Tata's have them so how special are they? Just use your normal driving lights dude.
JC 11/14/2008 11:57:50 AM
Bad news Neall! The Metro police cannot do a roadworthy inspection on a truck or bus because they lack the necessary training! In a recent initiative by private enterprise to regain the lost skills (thank AA for that one...), 25 trucks were pulled over at random in JHB and CTN. 21 in JHB were unroadworthy and ALL 25 in CPT. Anyway, truck drivers are paid employees, so U can't solicit bribes - so no motivation to even stop them.
Snake 11/14/2008 12:02:56 PM
It is all about revenue - hitting the 'soft' targets who have traceable addresses and who will pay up. Road safety does not even come into the equation - and certainly neither does law enforcement when it means pissing off potential voters. Our erstwhile Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe, and the various local authorities are happy to pour billions down the sinkholes of projects like the Gautrain but refuse flatly do do anything that would positively combat carnage.
Chelly 11/14/2008 12:15:24 PM
Have you ever stopped to think that is just plain negligant driving?? Most accidents occur as a resultof a traffic voilations!
Wayne 11/14/2008 12:15:33 PM
The problem has and always will be the drivers on our roads. You just have to spend a couple of hours driving anywhere in the country to realize that we are surely the worst, most inconsiderat drivers in the world. Even when Traffic officers are in plain view people do the most rediculous, dangerous things with no regard for other road users. effective policing only works if the people being policed co-operate.
Grace Kadzere 11/14/2008 12:15:52 PM
The Minister delegates the roads maintenance to his staff. But because mose monistries in this sountry know nothing about accountability and competence, all the tax money and overspeeding fines either is just sitting somewhere unused or has already been mismanaged and therefore nothing to hope for. And it all goes back to politics, many ministers are so relaxed with their posts as they do not have much competition but hopefully that will change in 2009.
Louise 11/14/2008 12:20:02 PM
I'm amazed that it is legal (if it is infact legal) for trucks and bakkies to carry passengers where they have absolutely NO protection in the case of an accident. If the passengers were properly transported and safety-belted a lot of these deaths could be avoided. It is pure stupidity to drive at 120km's/h with people in the back of a bakkie/truck!!
Barry 11/14/2008 12:21:13 PM
Neall your comments are valid - however you wasted your enegy and effort writing this. There is a total disregard for law, especially petty law, in this country. I have personally witnessed law enforcement officials speaking on cell phones while driving. How do you expect this situation to be improved on when it appears that the old saying "Laws are meant to be broken" has take on a complete new meaning in this country. This is just another African country that will end just like the rest.
Badger 11/14/2008 12:21:19 PM
,,,you are farting against thunder. Just look around and see how many taxis and other cars are on the road that are held together with wire and cable ties. These people don't give a hoot. As long as there is money in the pocket, it's just a case of 25 less mouths to feed and complain. Sad but true !!!
Joe333 11/14/2008 12:23:24 PM
Jedi, the comedian says, "Never in the history of this country has this level of resources been ploughed into infrastructure." Well Jedi, please explain, except for infrastructure related to 2010, where all this money is being spent. I travel throughout the country and the roads are deteriorating at an alarming rate and nothing has been fixed in the past 10 years. You sure you aren't the minister of transport? By the way, good bye!
ShRoOm 11/14/2008 12:28:31 PM
You are a bit clueless if you think our government is going to use our tax money to fix roads and improve infrastructure. I can guarantee you most of this money is probably being used for ANC election campaigning. After all - somebody has to pay for the yellow t-shirts, Zuma posters and the fees for those individuals that constantly follow the COP around to disrupt their meetings (a.k.a. Rent a Crowd). Also, since when do we FIX things in this country? We are so good at tearing things down...
Hein 11/14/2008 12:33:08 PM
Did you consider that the owners of the trucking and transport companies should also (mostly) be held liable here? It should be the transport company's policy to ensure that all vehicles used are roadworthy and that drivers are competent (which I can almost guarantee you was the problem in this case). Take a trip on any SA road and experience the driving arrogance for yourself.
ShRoOm 11/14/2008 12:35:11 PM
I have never heard of something so ridiculous! Okay, I have, but that is besides the point. You are saying that if the public don't co-operate then policing cannot be effective? What rubbish! The traffic police must MAKE the public cooperate. Sitting in a parked traffic police vehicle on the side of the road with their coffee in one hand and reading the newspaper with another is not going to be effective whether the public cooperate or not!
Priscilla 11/14/2008 12:40:09 PM
Buy your licence. Talk on your cell phone while driving. Never stop at a red robot. Speed. Unroadworthy vehicles. Dishonest Metro Cops - only there for a bribe. All spells carnage. All trucks and buses should have contact numbers displayed so that bad driving can be reported. Taxis who I am sure do not pay tax are the worst and I have noticed that JHB Metro buses have begun to follow suite.
Richard Hipkin 11/14/2008 12:40:30 PM
Amen brother! I have been saying that for awhile now. "My Letters" and the comments that follow have become a mouthpiece for the misinformed who have the priviledge of having information at their fingertips but would rather resort to "The shear idiocy, and lack of factual, impirical and grounded research.." twaddle that gets progressively worse as more comments are presented.
Delboy 11/14/2008 12:40:51 PM
The government should think of instituting a ban on all trucks during rush hour periods. The problem also sits with our railway, as 80% of the loads on the road should actually be transported by rail. I agree that the police should be pulling of all unroadworthy vehicles, impounding them, and fining those companies out of business.
Ulaka 11/14/2008 12:46:42 PM
Europe has 100 times as many cars also. Therfor it must be a cultural thing. Our goverment has the country on auto pilot, hoping thins will go OK - while they dip there greedy hands into everything.
dh 11/14/2008 12:49:32 PM
Agree! After all, the person hired to drive the truck can hardly be expected to be responsible for the complete maintenance of the vehicle. I reckon a lot of them try to cut costs by not spending money on ensuring the trucks and buses are in a good condition, and this also puts the driver's life at risk!
M 11/14/2008 12:51:54 PM
People drive without licenses, without any regard to street signs and rules (like speeding). They also drive in unroadworthy vehicles. I see about every day some bus speeding down the road (Putco). Is this person aware that there are peoples lives at stake?No. As long as they remain unpunished,they will do it. They should build navigation equipment in each bus to monitor speed etc. Then fire the damn driver!Same with trucks.
Big Bad Bob 11/14/2008 12:55:18 PM
It can't be the responsibility of the authorities alone. They cannot possibly patrol every road, inspect every vehicle. It's not feasible. So owners and drivers have got to take some responsibility too.
Big Bad Bob 11/14/2008 12:56:55 PM
Whenever we see the cops stopping or ticketting people for speeding, jumping stop streets etc they're a pest, idiots, not doing their job, filling up their Xmas stockings etc. We should be applauding them for doing their job, and taking load off of them by driving in a reasonable manner.
Robert 11/14/2008 1:04:48 PM
The roads in general are a joke. They fix/relay the ones that hardly need it and neglect the ones that do. But lets face it the state of half the vehicles on the road - most notably those that in public service buses/trucks/taxis hardly have lights in working order etc. Most of the motorists are talking on their phones and the motorcyclists that just weave when they deem fit. Until there is a real clampdown... well, same thing on another day
pyatte 11/14/2008 1:04:57 PM
In return for my rates hike I get:- the road I live in going to pieces, no more garbage collection, the verges are now not attended to at all, some street lights have not been fixed, etc, etc. Could someone please explain, I don't understand! My conclusion is "My money" is being stolen, therefore someone is accountable, an audit should be done and all the fcukers at the top should go to JAIL!!!!!
chillepeppa 11/14/2008 1:05:01 PM
This is a 2 way street here. The officials and the public must both change their attitudes. We, as the public must start thiking and acting more logically. Why do people still DRIVE with their PARKING lights or their fog lights? And the officials, stop hiding behind bushes and get the bloody unroadworthy cars OFF the road, permanenetly. Some of those deathtraps aren't even good enough for scrapmetal.
ShRoOm 11/14/2008 1:18:42 PM
I am glad you finally admit that ALL commentators are guilty of this - I especially remember YOUR article you had on here a while ago - the most 'twaddle' I have ever read on News24! And who are you to say the author didn't research his letter? Were you there watching him? Are you the News24 editor? If not, then shut up and deal with it! Neall makes valid and thought provoking points.
BD 11/14/2008 1:23:38 PM
Fact-SA roads are not maintained as prescribed, Assumption-Some people drive as if they own it(especially GP&NW people coming to NC,WP,EC,KZN). Another Xmas season Approaches, another death toll will start up and compared to previous years, and it will be higher. The amounts are increasing because Stupidity and Bad Judgement kills. But, the Conditions of the Roads could improve this statistic, and this is what I agree with. All have a Safe Journey these Holidays, B responsible, take care
Joe333 11/14/2008 1:25:26 PM
I agree that people should not just make statements without knowing the facts, but you hardly need to do research to see what is happening on the roads in this country. Our pathetic driving skills, bad roads, unroadworthy vehicles, lack of proper policing, and deteriorating infrastructure in towns and rural areas, is plain for anyone to see.
MALCOLMX 11/14/2008 1:26:01 PM
The traffic officcials all overt he country profile their victims based on color & money, to make their quotas & possibly a good percentage in backhanders. So what if potential ANC voters get killed all the time because of this very reason. I reckon they must carry on. Make my day, month, year & life.
Lotus 11/14/2008 1:35:02 PM
At which point do we as drivers stop accepting responsibility for what we do behind the wheel? The readers who complain about potholes/traffic cops/degenarating roads will never admit that driver actions are huge contributing factors to accidents. No authority can cover every inch of our countries roads at all times - road users must start practicing good motoring skills. Drinking/speeding/bad driving/yakking on cells, people are supposed to be responsible for their own lives and safety.
Sinudeity@Gmail.com 11/14/2008 1:37:53 PM
Yeah shroom. NOT ENOUGH is being spent on everything else. Tollgates now? To fund infrastructure? Thats not right. Remember last elections. The ANC's bank accounts were in the RED, DEEPLY, in the RED. Yet, somehow, they managed to pull off one of the most expensive election campaigns in SA history. Mismanagement.
als 11/14/2008 1:46:00 PM
A very good example of bad roads is the intersection at the Safari Garage, Main Road, Bryanston. There is a huge deep pothole that just gets filled with soil and every time it rains, or from wear & tear, the soil is washed away. This is 6 months now!! The garage owner at one stage put his petrol sign in the hole to warn drivers. Also, I drive to Midrand and back every day and their roads are in a shocking state. Potholes, deep crevices next the tar, and faded or no white lines. Shocking.
Cape Town Kid 11/14/2008 1:49:20 PM
Companies who are employing thes drivers? Is there no duty on them to ensure that drivers are properly skilled to drive those trucks. What about the retailers who are making unrealistic demands on drivers to deliver goods in shorter turnaround times. How about taking these companies to task who expect the same drivers to drive back to their destination with new loads. How about shouting at these companies to look after their drivers and allowing realistic rest periods in between their deliveries!
Richard Hipkin 11/14/2008 1:55:25 PM
Ok so I mention that the quality of comments have deteriorated, notice I did not attack anyone in paticular or mention the author and you decide to attack me personally. Wow you daredevil you.. I rest my case.
Richard Hipkin 11/14/2008 2:04:20 PM
I just went back a good couple of articles and read all your comments. You one angry little man, very insulting, intolerant and bombastic. You should try Yoga.
Cynical 11/14/2008 2:07:51 PM
To stop the carnage on our roads would be to shatter our reality. We are so used to living with death on our roads that to have it any other way would simply not feel right. For one thing, it would deny the undertakers a living, now wouldn't it? Another thing is that we are constantly told that we are part of Africa, so if that is so then road carnage is completely normal, isn't it?
Richard Hipkin 11/14/2008 2:09:41 PM
I agree with you and yes the roads are in a shocking state, also I merely agreed on the fact that commentators tend to emotionally comment on issues without thought or research, pity shroom decided to take it personally, I think Bundi Yoga would benefit him tremendously.
Wakeupcops 11/14/2008 2:10:28 PM
One just has to drive down the N1 and see where all the cops are...behind speed cameras (I see it takes up to four cops to operate one now!!) The chiefs of police really think we are stuid if we believe their message that 'speed kills', because it doesn't...so get off your fat butts and start patrolling and stopping unroad worthy cars, trucks and taxis...also fire cops that don't obey the road rules...I see it every day. Get some spirit in your rotten force...then you will see a difference!!

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