Reckless tow-truck, ambulance driving crisis goes on

IN only its first three weeks of existence, a special committee established to clamp down on reckless tow-truck and ambulance drivers has received five serious complaints.

The latest involved a TraumaNet minibus ambulance that rolled at the intersection of Cape Road and William Moffett Expressway at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.

It was en route to an accident in Walker Drive.

Other accidents include a tow truck responding to an accident in Marine Drive and allegedly veering into oncoming traffic on Saturday night, and an East Cape Medical Response (ECMR) ambulance being in collision with a vehicle at the intersection of Cape Road and Alan Drive on Wednesday morning.

About two weeks ago, a V&R Auto tow truck allegedly collided into a car driven by Bruce Downer on Cape Road.

"The roads were wet so I was on the speed limit in the left-hand lane when the tow truck just shot in front of me. The total damage to my car is about R5000," Downer said.

"The police were there and I have opened a case." The latest figures on the accidents were revealed at a meeting yesterday of the new joint emergency services task team.

The team – officially called the Nelson Mandela Bay Emergency Services Coordination Committee – was established to investigate and apprehend unruly and speeding drivers causing havoc on the roads.

The task team was formed after police officials said that several complaints were being received each day by 10111 call takers.

These regularly included some about tow trucks racing to accident scenes, weaving in and out of traffic and jumping red traffic lights. If convicted of negligent driving, offenders in such cases could be fined up to R12000 or three years' imprisonment, or both, and for reckless driving, a fine of R24000 or imprisonment of up to six years, or both.

Courts may cancel or suspend the motorist's licence.

A senior official who was at the meeting provided the latest figures on tow trucks and private ambulances racing to scenes.

Committee chairwoman Reinette Adams stressed that even though ambulances were considered emergency vehicles under the Road Traffic Act – while tow trucks were not – it did not excuse endangering the lives of other motorists.

"There is a thin line between driving fast and carefully, or driving fast, recklessly and jumping red traffic lights without any consideration to any other vehicles," Adams said.

The municipality's high-tech CCTV control room is involved with the team and will be used to monitor and film culprits for evidence and criminal prosecution.

Adams urged anyone driven off the road or who witnesses a road violation to open a criminal case.

Last month five cars were damaged when Precision Tow-in Services and V&R Auto were allegedly racing to a minor accident scene in Circular Drive.

In May, the safety and security portfolio committee was told that court cases involving speeding towtruck drivers had been reinstated after it was revealed prosecutors continuously withdrew them.

Traffic chief Hamilton Totoyi said at the meeting his department aimed to clamp down on the breakdown service providers.

Among other incidents this year, a man was killed and another seriously injured when a tow truck crashed into them while they were running across Uitenhage Road, near Algoa Park, in March. - Gareth Wilson