LOCAL NEWS - Following the horrific, lethal crash on Monday 15 December at the Nxuba (formerly Cradock) railway bridge on the N10, Petrus Plaatjies, regional chairperson of the executive committee of the Patriotic Alliance in Nxuba and Middelburg, has penned an open letter to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral). In the letter Plaatjies outlines an urgent safety proposal to prevent and minimise future collisions.
Here follows his full letter:
OPEN LETTER TO SANRAL
Subject: URGENT SAFETY INTERVENTION PROPOSAL
Mitigation of Extreme Heavy Vehicle Speeds on N10 Steep Decent into Cradock, Following Recent Fatal Accident.
Date: December 16, 2025
1. Introduction and Context
This proposal is submitted following the tragic and preventable fatal accident that occurred on December 15, 2025, on the N10 section entering Cradock, Eastern Cape, near the train bridge area.
The accident site is located immediately following a significant and prolonged steep descent into the town. This geographical feature is a primary contributor to dangerous vehicle dynamics, particularly involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
2. The Identified Hazard:
Steep Decent and Uncontrolled Speed
The downhill gradient on the N10 approaching Cradock creates a critical safety hazard:
Excessive Momentum: The steep decent causes heavy vehicles to build up considerable speed and momentum, making it challenging for drivers to decelerate sufficiently upon entering the urban speed limit zone.
Uncontrolled Entry Speed
As a result, HGVs often enter the urban environment at speeds significantly exceeding the 60 km/h limit, placing immense strain on braking systems and dramatically increasing stopping distances and the severity of any resulting accidents.
Existing Infrastructure Flaw
The current road layout fails to provide a mandatory or engineered intervention point to force speed reduction before vehicles reach the critical intersections and the known problem area under the train bridge.
This vehicle could not get out of the truck's way as it was under the railway bridge before it was hit by the truck. Photo: Petrus Plaatjies
3. The Proposed Solution:
Mandatory Stop/Control Point
To proactively enforce the 60 km/h urban speed limit and prevent heavy vehicles from descending the hill with dangerous momentum, we urgently propose the implementation of a mandatory traffic control measure at a strategic point before the main residential and commercial intersections.
Specific Proposal
Implement a MANDATORY STOP STREET or TRAFFIC LIGHT at the T-junction serving the following key local establishments/landmarks: Custom Motors; Cradock Prison / Correctional Facility; Delta Motors
Why this location is critical?
Forced Deceleration: Placing a mandatory stop/yield requirement at this point will compel HGV drivers to use their brakes and gears to reduce their speed from the national road pace to a complete stop, effectively resetting their momentum before they continue into the town center.
Speed Compliance: After a forced stop, drivers will have to accelerate from 0 km/h, naturally entering the rest of the town at or below the 60 km/h limit, rather than simply coasting down the hill.
Prohibiting Future Tragedies: This single intervention would serve as a powerful engineering control, drastically reducing the risk of high-speed collisions in the known problem area, thereby saving lives and honoring the memory of those lost.
4. Call to Action:
Given the recent fatality and the clear, documented danger of this section of the N10, we urge SANRAL to:
- Immediately acknowledge this safety hazard and the recent fatality.
- Initiate an emergency engineering study to implement the Stop Street or Traffic Light proposal at the Custom Motors/Prison intersection.
- Commit to a swift implementation timeline before this predictable danger claims another life.
We look forward to your urgent and positive response to ensure the safety of Cradock residents and all commuters using the N10.
Submitted by Petrus Plaatjies on behalf of the Cradock community.
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DA demands urgent action following horrific crash on the N10
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