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IOL News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
923 killed last June - RTMC warns youth ahead of long weekend
The Road Traffic Management Corporation urges young drivers to reduce speed, avoid drinking and driving, and maintain safe distances this Youth Month The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged young people to exercise extreme caution on South Africa's roads as the Youth Day long weekend and school winter holidays approach. In a road safety awareness drive launched this June, the RTMC is calling on youth to take active steps to protect their lives and those of others during a period historically marked by high road fatality rates. Over the past four years, road fatalities during June have averaged 1,044 deaths annually. Although fatalities decreased to 833 in June 2023, this figure climbed again to 923 in 2024. "Worryingly, trends show that young people aged 20 to 39 make up more than half of daily road crash fatalities in South Africa", the RTMC said in a statement. RTMC spokesperson, Simon Zwane, warns that "the most common type of crash relates to accidents with pedestrians, hit and run type of accidents and single vehicle overturn and head on collisions", trends they are working to change drastically.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
RTMC warns motorists en route Comrades to drive safe
RTMC says law enforcement officials will ensure motorists experience minimal to no incidents over the weekend. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged motorists travelling to the Comrades Marathon this weekend to exercise extreme caution given the icy weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (Saws). The 95th instalment of the race – which is a downhill run – will take place in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Sunday, starting from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Conditions on the N3 As runners and supporters make their way to KZN, RTMC chief communication officer Simon Zwane warns the N3 road between Johannesburg and Durban could be affected by misty conditions around Van Reenan Pass to Hilton. 'The Harrismith and Pietermaritzburg areas usually experience dense mist around this time of the year, and motorists are urged to be cautious as traffic volumes are expected to peak on the N3 from [Friday] and on Sunday when most runners will be returning,' Zwane said in a statement. 'Law enforcement authorities from Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, including the National Traffic Police (NTP) from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and key road safety stakeholders such as [the N3 Toll Route], will ensure that motorists experience minimal to no incidents heading to the Comrades Marathon,' Zwane added. On Thursday, the weather service warned of a spell of extreme weather starting this weekend, with snowfall possible in all provinces except Limpopo. ALSO READ: Comrades Marathon: Top five men's and women's contenders Icy weather across SA 'In the coming days, a particularly intense Cut-Off Low (COL) system, associated with severe and extreme winter weather, is expected to affect South Africa, persisting over the country until at least the middle of next week over the eastern provinces,' Saws said. Runners can expect predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies on Sunday. However, they should be aware of a cool change in the weather later in the day, introducing colder, more moist conditions to the coast and adjacent interior. The RTMC urges motorists to: Obey all road traffic rules and regulations Exercise patience at traffic operations and construction sites on the N3 route Be prepared and polite when stopped by law enforcement authorities NOW READ: OPINION: Comrades queen Gerda Steyn faces a battle against Irvette van Zyl
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
'Winter roads can be deadly': RTMC warns drivers during Youth Month
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged drivers, particularly young people, to be responsible and vigilant on the roads as winter arrives with snow and bad weather in parts of the country. In the past four years, fatalities during June, Youth Month, averaged 1,044 a year. 'We urge young people to be responsible and save lives by reducing speed and avoiding drunk driving, especially on weekends between 5pm to 9pm when most fatalities occur,' said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane. According to the RTMC there were 923 road fatalities in June last year. 'We urge young people to check their vehicle tyres and ensure they have [a] tread depth of [at least] 1.6mm, as grip starts to reduce under 3mm,' Zwane said.
Eyewitness News
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Eyewitness News
RTMC investigating crash that claimed 16 lives
JOHANNESBURG - The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has deployed a team of investigators to look into the cause of the crash that claimed the lives of 16 people in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. The death toll was initially reported at 15. It is believed the devastating accident happened when a minibus taxi and a bakkie collided head-on on the R63 Road between Adelaide and Maqoma, formerly Fort Beaufort. Four survivors were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. This is the highest number of fatalities seen in a single crash in the last few months in the Eastern Cape. RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said authorities are still probing the circumstances of the crash. "We cannot know what the cause of the crash is. It is under investigation. The investigation will find out what the events that led to the crash.' The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) spokesperson, Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala, said the incident has deeply saddened them. "This is a heartbreaking loss for the affected families and the country at large. It is especially devastating as it follows shortly after a successful Easter road safety campaign during which no major crashes were recorded on the national roads."
