The accident in which two Outsuarance pointsmen were killed by a suspected drunk driver while driving to the 702 Walk the Talk on Sunday morning has highlighted the vulnerability of motorcyclists and cyclists, Think Bike Safety Campaign said.
”It is tragic that two fellow bikers, who had made a career out of keeping others safe, were killed in such a senseless accident,” spokesperson Dries van der Walt said.
He said it was vital for both motorists and bikers to watch out for each other on the roads to avoid accidents.
”While other road users need to be more vigilant for bicycles and motorcycles, bikers also need to realise that they must adapt their riding style and speed to the prevailing road surface and traffic conditions.
”Motorists often blame the high motorbike accident rate on the riders of bikes, claiming that the majority of bikers ride too fast or negligently, but here we have exactly the opposite — these pointsmen were riding with in the prescripts of the law, dressed in high-visibility clothing at the time of the accident,” said Van der Walt.
The Think Bike Campaign is aimed at increasing awareness of bike safety among road users.
Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Percy Morokane said on Sunday that a Toyota Yaris driving in the fast lane of the N1 near the Grayston offramp crashed into the two cyclists at 4am.
The two, aged 26 and 35, were part of a convey of 11 pointsmen travelling to the fun walk.
Both men died on the scene. The driver of the Yaris and his passenger escaped with minor bruises.
Police spokesperson Constable Neria Malefetse said the 26-year-old driver had his blood alcohol level tested at the scene and it was allegedly four times over the legal limit.
He would appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court soon to face charges of culpable homicide. – Sapa