[imagesource: Twitter / @VehicleTrackerz]

As we edge closer to the festive season, our roads become nightmarish once more.

Although to be fair, that’s pretty much a year-round thing these days.

Trucks have been at the centre of some heartbreaking incidents, with video from two crashes last month being widely shared around the country.

Bus transport is now under the spotlight after two incidents in the past week, starting with a crash on the N8, at the Botshabelo turn-off in the Free State, that claimed eight lives last Wednesday.

IOL reports:

“The head-on collision was between a truck and an Interstate bus. The Interstate bus was travelling west towards Bloemfontein and the truck was travelling east towards Thaba Nchu,” the [Road Traffic Management Corporation] RTMC said…

Interstate Bus Lines said it was informed of the crash, adding the truck allegedly tried to overtake the bus.

Both drivers died at the scene.

CEO of Interstate Bus Lines, George Mokgothu, stressed that the bus involved had passed an independent roadworthy test the day before the crash.

Truck and Bus Crashed on the N8 road in ( Free State Province )

It’s confirmed the Interstate bus from Zone 5 in Thaba Nchu going to Bloemfontein is the one involved in the crash with a truck.

Unfortunately Six people lost their Lives. pic.twitter.com/usUaF1bR7F

— Vehicle Trackers (@VehicleTrackerz) November 10, 2022

According to preliminary findings covered by News24, human error is to blame:

The conditions of the road are still deemed very good, despite heavy rainfall during the past few days…

“It is alleged that when the truck driver noticed an oncoming vehicle, he attempted to avoid a head-on collision. He allegedly swayed the truck toward the left lane, thereby crashing into the front right of the bus, resulting into this horrendous accident,” said Hillary Mophethe, spokesperson of the provincial Department of Police, Roads and Transport.

There were 62 passengers on the bus and it’s been reported that 19 sustained moderate injuries and 32 had minor injuries.

The following day, the engine of a Greyhound bus carrying approximately 25 passengers allegedly exploded in Vereeniging.

Nompilo Gwala, who was on the bus and spoke with News24, said passengers were told they had to change to a different bus shortly before departing from Jozi.

That bus was then late “because it had undergone a service inspection”:

“We had just picked up some passengers in Vereeniging when we heard a loud bang. The bus came to a complete stop, and the driver immediately started shouting that we should get out of the bus and leave all our belongings,” she added.

Gwala said when all the passengers had disembarked the coach, they realised that the back of the bus, close to where the engine is located, was on fire.

As you can see from the video below, the bus was totally gutted:

Gwala said that once police and emergency services had doused the fire, they left and passengers were forced to wait on the side of the road until a representative for Greyhound arrived on the scene.

The bus company says reports of an explosion in the engine compartment have not been confirmed and an investigation is underway.

Those who follow the news closely may recall that earlier this month, an Intercape Sleepliner coach carrying 46 passengers caught fire while travelling from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

Incidents like these have put bus safety under scrutiny. We don’t have any stats at hand but it would appear that anecdotally, you’re far safer flying than travelling on our roads.

Obviously, that’s not an option for the majority who use bus travel in South Africa.

While on the topic of our roads, we should also mention the CEO of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). Tshepo Mahanuke claims a Harvard master’s degree that doesn’t exist and demands his staff call him ‘Dr’ Mahanuke on the strength of an honorary doctorate you can buy for a small donation.

The Daily Maverick has that full story here – it’s a real doozy.

[sources:iol&news24&news24]