Update
GEORGE NEWS – The Pedestrian hit last night by a car on the N2 between Thembalethu and Lawaaikamp has died.
Subsequently, the case of reckless and negligent driving opened by Conville Police station against the driver of the vehicle was upgraded to one of culpable homicide.
This is according to Southern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Christopher Spies.
News of the accident sent shock waves through the greater George community, not only due to the sad nature of the incident but also because there are understood to be four pedestrian bridges on that stretch of the N2 and it is generally illegal for pedestrians to be on the freeway, yet motorists are held accountable if a pedestrian gets hit.
Zanelle van der Weshuizen wrote on Facebook: “In all honesty, how is it reckless and negligent driving if a person crosses a highway? How must you swerve at 120km per hour not to hit a person who is not supposed to be on a highway? Is it not against the law there for people to be on the highway? Next it will become a 40km/h zone defying the purpose of a highway.”
Francois Greeff Vorster said he passed the accident and called an ambulance.
“It happened right under the pedestrian bridge which was not used and now the driver gets charged. It is time that we as road users start filing cases against the authorities for an unsafe national road and let them carry the costs for damages. It is too easy for them to be bullies. Who was at the wrong?” he wrote. He then expressed condolences to both parties.
Defending pedestrians, Jennifer Jonas alleged people were crossing the road without using pedestrian bridges because ‘tsotsis’ were robbing pedestrians on the bridges.
In a situation like this there are no winners, as suggested by Magdel Riekert who highlighted the trauma the driver may have experienced.
“You are not even thinking of the trauma the driver experiences taking the life of another person being where he/she is not supposed to be whilst crossing the N2. This driver has got to deal with this for the rest of his/her life. So unnecessary.”
According to Regulation 323 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (under the National Road Traffic Act, 1996) no pedestrian shall be on a freeway except:
- When crossing it at a designated pedestrian bridge or crossing, or
- If directed by a traffic officer, or
- If their vehicle has broken down and they must walk to get assistance (and even then, only under certain conditions).
Also read:
Pedestrian injured in N2 accident in George
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