UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

MEDIA RELEASE

ROAD ACCIDENTS - URGENT REGULATIONS REQUIRED

STATEMENT ISSUED BY MR. T. ABRAHAMS, MP
UDM SPOKESPERSON ON TRANSPORT

The United Democratic Movement calls on government to urgently address the management of the ailing road system in South Africa.

This call comes amidst numerous road accidents that include the collision between a truck and a minibus taxi just off Johannesburg's DF Malan Drive on Monday morning, in which twelve people have died. The UDM expresses its condolences to the bereaved families.

The UDM suggests that the Minister of Transport investigates the option that trucks be regulated so as not to travel during morning peak hours, between 6h30 and 8h30, thereby preventing congestion and the frequency of collisions that involve heavy duty trucks. Furthermore, there is the pressing question of trucks travelling through residential areas so as to avoid traffic-laden arterial and main roads.

The UDM calls upon the government to urgently institute programmes that are devised to co-ordinate traffic, health and environmental concerns, thus resulting in less traffic congestion, minimising the frequency of collisions and decreasing pollution.

Cape Town
4 June 2001