Jaywalker deaths: Peak-time operations planned

Two deadly pedestrian-vehicle accidents (PVAs) on the N2 near George over the last two weekends have brought the perpetual issue of people tempting death by illegally walking on the freeway into sharp focus.

- Jacqueline Herbst

On Friday 1 August, a mother of three was killed when she was hit by a car on the N2 between Lawaaikamp and Thembalethu. Just a week later, a man died on the left-hand lane of the N2 east, when he was run over about 5km from Pacaltsdorp.

These are only two of multiple PVAs reported in George over the years.

The provincial traffic authority, in cooperation with Sanral and the Department of Infrastructure, are probing the viability of installing traffic signs on the N2 outside George to help prevent jaywalker deaths on the N2.

Pedestrians are by law prohibited from walking on a freeway, yet in spite of this and Sanral investing millions in pedestrian bridges over the freeway outside George a few years ago, scores of people still walk on and cross the N2.

Pedestrian fatalities make up more than half of road deaths in the Western Cape. The national average sits at 47%.

"This shocking reality indicates our message to pedestrians is not reaching home, and we have to do much more work at a local level where these accidents occur," said Transport Minister Barbara Creecy at the Easter Weekend Road Safety Report media briefing.

Causes range from negligence to deliberate acts