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Flawed crash probes lashed

Flawed and incomplete road accident investigations mean that negligent drivers are allowed to continue driving, says Transport Minister Jeff Radebe.

Flawed and incomplete road accident investigations mean that negligent drivers are allowed to continue driving, says Transport Minister Jeff Radebe.

"In too many cases these motorists escape prosecution, often because of incomplete information that is gathered at the scene of the accident," Radebe told delegates at a road traffic accident investigation conference in Johannesburg yesterday.

Accurate and reliable accident investigations are an essential element of law enforcement, but "this matter continues to haunt our law enforcement initiatives", Radebe said.

Road safety is not only about law enforcement, engineering and awareness, it "is also very much about proper and accurate accident investigations to fill up all the gaps", he said.

More than 15000 people are killed on South Africa's roads each year, in accidents that cost the country up to R46billion.

"We need to take a confrontational approach in our determination to tackle these problems," the minister said. - Sapa

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