When I saw the first accident, I thought it was just that, a terrible accident. When the second one happened I figured it can’t be that weird, after all we have drunk drivers, self righteous drivers, stupid drivers and those in the middle. You end up thanking the Lord almighty for taking those advance driving classes.
When the third one happened, I lost it. Now they broke their own record, soon after the last two which happened within the same month. This is a perfect example of greed. This company seems to have lost its ability to recognize reasons which attract civil lawsuits, but it seems to enjoy taking money from passengers and risking their lives and even worse they subject them to death at the comfort of their buses.
We need to also acknowledge that thousands of taxis also take people’s lives during and outside of the holiday seasons. However, SA ROADLINK'S situation has moved past what I think is a freak streak. To what I consider to be a carnage of innocent lives!
This blog was inspired by an enews report which left me drained and very confused at how this can continue to happen after last years terrible accident.
An accident can be a result of anything, but the buses fault. I.e A drunk driver, etc. As we would hope, but on the 16th of Dec 2008, those of you who still have hangovers, that’s yesterday.
11 people lost their lives in an accident involving an SA Roadlink bus. The accident occurred on the southbound side of the N2 highway near Hibberdene. The SA Roadlink bus hit the truck it was trying to overtake, whereafter the bus driver lost control and veered into the northbound lanes of the highway, where a head-on collission occurred with a Toyota Camry. Five occupants of the SA Roadlink bus, including a five year old boy, and all 6 occupants of the Toyota Camry (a family on their way to Port Shepstone from Durban) died in the accident. The SA Roadlink bus was travelling from the southern Cape to Durban via the Eastern Cape.
There is nothing as terrifying as a bus accident, the weight of passengers on top of you and the screams and panic. It’s horrible. Imagine bodies and innocent children.
Just so you understand the gravity of this problem here is a run down.12 Dec 2008Intercape's lawyers write a letter to the authorities arguing that SA Roadlink is illegally transporting passengers on its Pretoria - Cape Town route. To download the letter
click here28 Jun 2008An SA Roadlink bus on its way from Johannesburg to East London, is involved in an accident with a Nissan double cab and a BMW.
3 Jun 2008Over 50 people are injured when an SA Roadlink bus crashes near Marianhill toll plaza.
26 Nov 20073 die when an SA Roadlink bus and a bakkie crash near Plettenberg Bay.
24 Dec 200612 die when an SA Roadlink bus crashes into a bridge on the N3 near Pietermaritzburg.
Information sourced from southafrica.to
People’s lives are being destroyed by this company and it seems nothing is being done to get them off the transport business.
I cannot understand why a CEO or board member of this company would sit there and ignore the glaring problem that is faced by this company’s incompetence at dealing with this issue, whilst people continue to die. But then again it seems whatever they are selling people are willing to buy. Whatever is going on is a bad reflection of our country, in that people will continue risking their lives with a service which offers the possibly of death.
This is no joke, anyone who has been in an accident or was on a scene of a terrible accident will know how devastating all this could be. To think that as an onlooker you continue driving to your house whilst those involved will be faced with either medical bills or death, perhaps both. Now imagine having to pay someone to help you experience that. No single company in any sane country should be allowed to contribute to the death rate, not even if its legal. PERIOD
These are some of the comments I found
Jane Sexton said
“I have used the bus services such as roadlink before. When you are faced with constant mechanical and electrical problems which make the trip unsafe (not to mention the speed they drive - 120) it makes you wander why they are still allowed to operate!”charlie82 said
“These guys should be canned. How many people have to die before someone wakes up?? I have travelled with them before and even though the bus was showing problems from the time we left the station, the driver just kept going. We were then stuck in Swinburne for 3 hours till it was fixed. The drivers drive above 100km/h too! This is is just ridiculous that they are still allowed to operate!!”However, this is the story that shocked me the most, here is a sample
We were then told that the air conditioner was not working. Wait for it: they opened the toilet door; stacking the cases in front so that the door could stay open and opened the windows every hour or so. Even the door of the bus was opened while driving so that there was some air with passengers clinging to their luggage to prevent it rolling out! Arriving at Bloemfontein I thought at last this was the end of my nightmare, but oh no the S.A. Roadlink sure had their knife in for me for having the audacity to complain to the manager. They stopped half a kilometer from the departure point and told me this is their stop for disembarking. I told them that this is not so: it is around the block. I was told I was mistaken and that I must disembark which I did. They then drove around the corner and stopped while I had to walk all the way back to the bus to retrieve my luggage. Luckily I am a healthy 60 year old. For the full version and more
click here
It is at this point when most companies will sell the business, but in their case I don't think anyone would be interested. The other option is to re-brand the company and any improvements they would like to claim will be implemented under a new brand, hopefully with a better commitment to "zero or very rear cases of accidents". In whatever way you would wish to cut this cake it is still spoiled. Close shop!
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