MEC Jacob Mamabolo has indicated that as part of the Provincial Government’s efforts to reduce road fatalities, he will engage all contracted bus companies to make advance driving a compulsory skill for drivers.

The MEC revealed this as he was conveying his condolences to families of victims of the fatal bus accident that occurred on (R573) Moloto Road, near Cullinan on Wednesday, 13 November 2019.

Two commuters lost their lives and thirty-nine others suffered minor cuts and serious injuries in the crash.

“As part of our efforts to reduce the road fatalities, I will be engaging with all bus companies that have contracts with the Department to make advance driving a compulsory skill for their drivers. As preliminary investigations indicate, we believe that with lifesaving driving most of these accidents can be avoided”.

He added that “the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with ARMSCOR at the Road Safety Seminar last week has paved way for the implementation of this requirement”.

Conveying his condolences, the MEC said “we are deeply saddened by this accident, the loss of life on our road has really reached epidemic proportions. We will continue to intensify our efforts to introduce lifesaving driving skills as we believe most accidents can be reduced with better methods of driving.”

He further wished the injured a speedy recovery and expressed his dismay over the carnage on the province’s roads.

Meanwhile, MEC Mamabolo further announced that the administrative process to hand-over Moloto Road to the National Department of Transport has been completed. He added that the ceremony to mark this transfer was set for Friday, 15 November 2019.

This means that the road will be reclassified as a National Road as announced in August 2019 and confirmed in October.

The MEC pleaded with motorists to exercise extra caution when on the road, especially in rainy conditions.

Source: Gauteng Province