Ndebele: 'Stop killer drags'
2011-04-05 07:22
PLAYING LIVE A KILLER: Drag-racing video games are fun but taking it to real roads killed three people in Tshwane at the weekend.
Transport minister Sbu Ndebele has urged a crackdown on drag racing on public roads after three people were killed in such a race at the weekend.
"Law enforcement is expected to know where these races are taking place and must stop them before they start," he said.
He said his department would even help to arrange legal races but illegal drag racing would not be tolerated.
Two people died on the scene and a third later in hospital after a crash involving a Nissan 350Z and an Uno Turbo in Gezina around 8pm.
The two cars crashed into two other cars not involved in the race and the Nissan spun off into a pole and exploded.
CHANGE THE LIGHTS
The Fiat broke apart when it hit another pole. A passenger in the car died on the scene, its driver in hospital. The Nissan driver also died.
Tshwane safety and security spokesman William Baloyi said he was llooking at a number of possible solutions, among them changing the synchronisation of the traffic lights from all green. "If all the lights are open at the same time, it makes it much easier for drag racing to take place."
Speed humps were also suggested.
Democratic Alliance councillor Elmarie Lindecalled on Tshwane's mayor to intervene immediately to stop racing in Voortrekker Road on Sunday evenings.
Another DA councillor, Hendrik Fourie, said: "We have submitted two petitions requesting action but to no avail. The mayor should visit Voortrekker Road on a Sunday evening to see for himself what is happening there.
"Spectators who support these races are just as guilty. Fewer people would race if there were no spectators."
