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GEORGE NEWS - The recent spate of accidents on the Outeniqua Pass has Georgians almost expecting another accident in the pass whenever it rains.
This year the George Herald has reported on no less than 10 accidents on the pass since January, and there may have been more.
They regularly occur when the road is wet and mostly don't end with one accident per day. Thankfully there has been no fatalities.
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According to Byron la Hoe of the Department of Transport and Public Works, there is a range of factors that contribute to road accidents including speeding, reckless driving, poor vehicle roadworthiness, driver fatigue, distracted driving, and slippery roads during wet weather.
"Our traffic service in George is responding to the latest incidents in Outeniqua Pass by having a visible presence, enforcing traffic laws, and regular speed monitoring. Our road engineers have confirmed that the road surface in the pass is in a good and safe condition.
"Road safety is a shared responsibility. We appeal to motorists to exercise caution when travelling on the pass, especially on rainy days."
More road signs?
According to La Hoe, the existing signage is in line with prescripts and guidelines. Furthermore he says that there are already many signs in the pass and space for additional signs at appropriate places are limited.
Asked about the oil spills being a possible contributing factor, La Hoe said, "It is unlikely that oil on the road contributes to accidents at specific curves, but the specific curve could be investigated for signs of oil spillage to test this argument. It is more likely that drivers fail to adapt to a safe speed for circumstances."
Eden911 paramedics transported the patient to hospital shortly after the accident. Photo: Kristy Kolberg
Recent accidents
Three people sustained minor injuries after an accident in a wet Outeniqua Pass on Thursday 15 March.
A bakkie and a car collided when one of the drivers lost control of his vehicle around the bend and hit the oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane.
According to ER24 spokesperson, Russel Meiring, the bakkie was lying on its side on the side of the road when paramedics arrived. The car was parked a couple of meters from the bakkie.
Paramedics tended to patients on scene and transported them to hospital via ambulance.
This accident comes merely a week after the pass claimed a hat-trick when three accidents occurred within three hours.
Two accidents greeted paramedics on the pass on Wednesday 21 March.
In both incidents drivers had lost control of their vehicles around bends.
No one was hospitalised in the first accident that morning, but later that evening one patient was transported to hospital by Eden911 paramedics after his Isuzu bakkie left the road, crashed through the barrier wall and landed on its side next to the road in the dense bush.
Read previous articles:
- Bakkie bars deur muur op Outeniquapas
- Bakkie and car collide on wet Pass
- Outeniqua Pass claims hat-trick
- Nóg 'n ongeluk in nat Outeniquapas
- Ongeluk op Outeniquapas
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