Concerned about the spate of crashes involving heavy vehicles on the roads, the Road Traffic Management Corporation strongly warns truck owners that they can be held liable for the negligent conduct of their drivers.
Truck owners are further warned that they could lose the right to operate on national roads which would have dire consequences for their businesses.
This follows a shocking truck crash on R34 near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal.The crash allegedly happened when a truck driver failed to stop at the scene of a crash.
He collided with other six vehicles – four trucks, one SUV and one light delivery vehicle – at the scene causing them to explode into a ball of fire. Two people were injured.
A video of a crash was circulated widely on social media and caused a public outcry. This followed another truck crash that claimed 20 lives in Pongola last week Friday.
The National Traffic Act imposes a duty on truck operators to conduct their business “with due care to the safety of the public.” It further states that “the operator of a vehicle shall exercise proper control over the driver of such a motor vehicle to ensure compliance by such driver with all relevant provisions of this Act.”
Failure by operators to properly carry out their responsibilities as imposed by the Act lead to conviction and sentence.
ENDS
ISSUED BY THE: ROAD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Horrifying dashcam footage shows truck driver overtaking on double barrier line and crashing into vehicle killing 21 occupants [ 19 primary school children] near Pongola in KZN https://t.co/FZLbNnRLKA #ArriveAlive @eNCA pic.twitter.com/InoLwpulXZ
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 17, 2022
Miraculous escape from fatal injuries after truck crashes into a crash scene near Ulundi https://t.co/nSiFEknPkx #ArriveAlive @KZN_EMS_MEDIA @KZNTransport pic.twitter.com/yme885QelQ
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) September 19, 2022
