The T-junction at Mooketsi on the R81 route linking the Gyiani road to that of Modjadjiskloof and Polokwane, claimed the lives of two people and left one with critical injuries on Friday morning the 27th of January.
According to Ronald Matjiakgang, the site manager from Vea Road Maintenance and Civils, the driver of a German luxury sedan failed to stop at the stop sign and entered the road unsafely.
Vea Road Maintenance and Civils is a contracting firm doing maintenance work for the South African National Roads Agency SOC (SANRAL) on the R81 and R36 roads.
A truck with a trailer travelling from the direction of Polokwane towards Modjadjiskloof which had the right of way, had no chance of avoiding the luxury sedan that suddenly appeared in its path. The driver of the truck was not injured, but clearly shocked afte the accident.
“Consultants are currently looking at several solutions to present to our client, SANRAL, that will help to prevent such accidents from happening again,” said Matjiakgang. “We had several accidents along the R81 route and towards Segopo village, but Friday’s fatal accident was the first this year at that particular intersection.”
Bystanders who witnessed the horrific accident as well as established residents and business owners in the area said they have pleaded with authorities to either erect traffic lights or a circle, similar to those in Mankweng and closer to Polokwane on the R71 route, which will help prevent such fatalities from occurring again.
The question though, if a stop sign cannot even prevent a driver of a vehicle from coming to a complete stop, would a traffic light or a circle be more effective? And is it not time for road users to be rather more considerate towards other road users and to actually start obeying the road rules?
