N4 Toll Route accident report for December 2011 holiday season

“All road users must help to create safer roads. Your attitude has a direct impact on general road safety. Take responsibility for your own behaviour, your actions and others on the road”.

SOUTH AFRICA

Pretoria to Lebombo Border

During December 2011, 128 accidents were reported on the South African section of the N4 toll road.109 accidents occurred during the same period in 2012.  This is an increase of 17% from 2010 to 2011. The corresponding increase in traffic on the South African section of N4 for the same period is approximately 3%.

Main causes of accidents

• Tyre bursts 31 (19%)
• Loss of control 31 (19%)
• Negligent driving (16.9%)
• Sleeping (9.4%)
• The causes are similar to those of 2010.

Weather conditions at the time of accidents

• 63% of accidents occurred in clear weather
• 35% in rainy conditions
• 2% in misty conditions

Visibility during accidents

• Clear day light -54%
• Night -28%
• Poor day light -18%

Days when majority of accidents occurred

Accidents were scattered during the holiday season. The following dates in December can, however, be considered peak days when 37% of the total accidents for this period occurred:

• 22^nd – 8 accidents
• 23^rd – 14 accidents
• 24^th–20 accidents
• 25^th – 5 accidents

Registration number of vehicles involved in accidents

Accidents along Gauteng section (N4/1 and N4/2)

• 62% Gauteng registered vehicles
• 15% Mpumalanga registered vehicles
• 8% North West registered vehicles
• 8% Mozambique registered vehicles

Accidents along Mpumalanga section (N4/3 to N4/8)

• 46% Gauteng registered vehicles
• 26% Mpumalanga registered vehicles
• 11% Mozambique registered vehicles
• 10% North West registered vehicles

Vehicle types involved in accidents along the South African section of the N4

• 64 LDV’s (light delivery vehicles also known as “bakkies”)
• 59 sedans
• 42 minibus taxi/passenger vehicles
• 23 heavy vehicles

Fatal accidents and fatalities

• 13 fatal accidents occurred in December 2011 resulting in 37 fatalities at the accident scene.  During December 2010, 10 fatal accidents occurred with 26 fatalities.
• Fatal accidents during the 2011 peak holiday season are 30% higher compared to December 2010.Fatalities are 42% higher than in December 2010.
• High increase in fatalities can be attributed to 18 fatalities in a single accident near Belfast between a truck and mini-bus taxi.

Pedestrians/stray animals

One pedestrian related accident was reported and no animal related accidents.

MOZAMBIQUE

Ressano Garcia Border to Port of Maputo (Mozambican section)

During December 2011,51 accidents were reported along the Mozambican section of the N4 toll road. Compared to the same period in 2010, there was a 4% reduction in the number of accidents (53 accidents in 2010).  The corresponding increase in traffic along the N4 is approximately 6% for the same period from 2010 to 2011.

Main cause/s of accidents

• Negligent driving (62%)
• Negligent driving was also reported as the biggest cause of accidents in 2010.

Weather conditions at the time of accidents

• 88% of accidents occurred in clear weather
• 12% in rainy conditions

Visibility during accidents

• Clear day light -56%
• Night -38%
• Poor day light -6%

Days when majority of accidents occurred

Accidents were scattered between various days in December. The highest number of daily accidents was reported on the 2^nd,3^rd and 17^th of December with 4 accidents on each day.

Registration number of vehicles involved in accidents

• 85% of Mozambican registered vehicles
•  4% Mpumalanga registered vehicles
•  4% Gauteng registered vehicles

Vehicle types involved in accidents along the Mozambican section of the N4

• 30 sedans
• 18 mini-buses
• 15 LDV's (light delivery vehicles)
• 11 heavy vehicles

Fatal accidents and fatalities

Only one fatal accident occurred during December 2011 resulting in one fatality on the scene.  During December 2010 there were 7 fatal accidents with 10 fatalities.  Another major accident with 12 serious injuries were also reported during December 2011.

Fatal accidents and fatalities have drastically reduced in Mozambique.

Pedestrians/stray animals

Three pedestrian accidents and no animal related accidents occurred during December 2011.