Two hundred and fifty minibus taxis have been involved in fatal accidents so far this year, the New National Party said on Sunday.
NNP transport representative Keppies Niemann said this information was revealed by Transport Minister Dullah Omar in reply to a parliamentary question.
The minister also said that during the period January 1 to August 23, 319 people — of whom 41 were drivers, 165 were passengers and 113 were pedestrians — were killed in these accidents.
Niemann said this figure was especially concerning if one considers that available figures for December 2001 show the accident rate per vehicle type per 100000 registered vehicles for minibuses and mini taxis was 40,07, while the same figure for cars for the same month was 9,43.
”It is quite clear that in general, minibuses and mini taxis are involved in far more accidents,” Niemann said.
Replying to Niemann’s question whether investigations were conducted into the roadworthiness of the minibus taxis involved in these accidents, Omar replied that investigations revealed that most of the taxis had faulty brakes.
The NNP believes that the roadworthiness of minibus taxis, but also of all other forms of public transport should be enforced and regulated more stringently.
”Owners of vehicles that are not roadworthy, as well as drivers that do not adhere to traffic regulations, must be punished severely and also be taken off our roads, because they are playing with people’s lives,” Niemann said.
Thousands of people use minibus taxis daily. In most cases this was the only transport available, and therefore ought to be safe and reliable, he said. The NNP called for the recapitalisation and regulation of the taxi industry to proceed without delay. – Sapa