Gauteng traffic police raises concerns about rise in road crashes around payday

Gauteng traffic police are concerned about the rise in road crashes, particularly during the weekends, at the end of the month, which coincide with payday.

Authorities say this period is prone to accidents and road fatalities.

Gauteng traffic police spokesperson, Obed Sibasa, said they’ve recorded over 20 crashes since Friday, ranging from fatal, serious and minor.

He added that the main contributing factors included drunk driving, speeding, unsafe overtaking, and reckless or negligent driving.

"For instance, in Joburg, southwest and east, five road users lost their lives in separate fatal crashes, several fighting for their lives in various medical facilities. For example, on the N1 before Winnie Mandela, a truck and two other vehicles with two fatalities. A fatal pedestrian accident on the N14 heaps blood over the R55 bridge.  We also recorded serious accidents - M1 South before Gresham Drive in Shenton, Nasrec Road, Ridgeway Road in Ridgeway, Engine garage, Abu Asfak in Lenasia, M1 South between Zevia and Booysens, N12 in the R500 Forgeville-Carletonville, N4 between weighbridge and Solomon Mahlangu-Utswani."