RTMC: Drivers the ‘backbone’ of trucking industry
The Road Traffic Management Corporation embarked on a new campaign to curb the number of deaths involving truck and bus drivers.
The campaign will kick off on the N4 in Mpumalanga on Thursday.
It follows a recent study conducted by RTMC, which identified areas in South Africa with the highest risk for road deaths involving trucks and buses.
A total of 4 001 trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022.
KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of fatal crashes, with 552, while the Northern Cape recorded the lowest 65.
The trucking industry has also recently seen a spike in attacks, with more than 20 trucks torched in July.
“Drivers are the backbone of the trucking industry, and by the nature of the work they do, they work under unique physically demanding conditions, putting them at increased risk of a range of chronic health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension,” said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane.
“These conditions, coupled with fatigue, can negatively affect the reaction time and significantly increase the risk of collisions.”
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