The number of fatal crashes on South African roads over the Easter period has decreased in 2008 compared with last year, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said on Thursday. "We are encouraged that the number of fatal crashes over Easter decreased by 55 from 250 in 2007 to 195 in 2008," Radebe told reporters in Pretoria.
The government is looking at the possibility of introducing roadworthiness tests for private vehicles every two years, a senior traffic official said at the launch of a national road safety campaign in Durban on Thursday. Thabo Tsholetsane said government was "doing a study" to see how often roadworthiness tests could be carried out.
The December holidays always bring turmoil and carnage to South African roads, but this year has seen the number of road fatalities reduced by 18%. Statistics released by the Department of Transport for last month show that the number of deaths had dropped by 263 from the previous year.
One man died and another was left critically injured when three trucks collided on the N1 highway before the Golden Highway offramp on Tuesday afternoon, Johannesburg metro police said. Spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said two combination trucks and an eight-tonne truck were involved in the accident.
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