KZN road deaths down
2003-12-21 15:38
Durban - The transport department of KwaZulu-Natal was "cautiously optimistic" on Sunday that the road death toll since the beginning of the month was down.
Departmental spokesperson Rajen Chinaboo said 293 people were killed last year in the period December 1 to 21, while 116 died on the province's roads this year in the same period.
"We believe that this is largely due to the early commencement of Operation Juggernaut in November and focused enforcement operations as with the improved deployment of technology at strategic locations," Chinaboo said.
He said traffic authorities were clamping down on irresponsible drivers.
O
n Sunday morning a taxi driver from Umlazi was arrested for exceeding the prescribed 100km/h speed limit. The man, Duncan Gumede, was released on R3 000 bail and would appear in court soon.
Two buses, one of them belonging to Big Sky Bus company in the Free State and the other to Mega Bus Company in Gauteng, were suspended at the Pinetown testing grounds early on Sunday morning.
The buses need repairs to their brakes before they would be allowed to continue their journey. The buses were transporting cricketers who had been participating in the Coca-Cola cricket shield competition.
Chinaboo said it was part of Operation Juggernaut to stop buses and coaches to check them for roadworthiness and the necessary operating permits.
Traffic volumes in the province remained "moderately high" on Sunday with 1 500 vehicles per hour heading south.
- SAPA