font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>There was a marked decline in the number of accidents and road fatalities on the N4 Toll Route during the 2015/16 festive season, with 112 accidents recorded compared to 172 in 2014/2015. Road fatalities also dropped from 14 to 12.
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Trans African Concessions (Trac), which manages the route, ascribes this to a collaborative campaign undertaken by the company in conjunction with all relevant emergency services such as ambulances, paramedics, Fire and Rescue, provincial traffic and pathology units.
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>This enabled Trac to facilitate the implementation of road-safety measures and the availability of 24-hour rapid roadside assistance and response, according to Trac spokesperson Solange Soares Nicholson
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“On peak traffic days, activations were held at specific spots along the route where these emergency services, as well as Trac’s Helpdesk, Accident Response and Road Assist Response teams were stationed. From there participating emergency services were dispatched simultaneously to an incident or accident,” she said.
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The campaign was also in full swing across the border in Mozambique where emergency services and TracAssist were stationed at the newly opened Pessene Load Control Centre.
font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“Though Trac acknowledges the decline of accidents and fatalities this past festive season, we have no cause to celebrate as one fatality on our roads is one too many,” added Nicholson, noting that the biggest causes of accidents continued to be speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and reckless and dangerous driving.