According to the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, high speed and driving under the influence of liquor are the main contributing factors for road accidents that have claimed the lives of at least 17 people over the past week.
In the latest incident on Thursday, three occupants of a Toyota Avanza car died after the car overturned on the R408 in Ngcobo.
Two men died at the scene, while a third man later died in hospital from his injuries.
Three more occupants are currently receiving treatment at All Saints Hospital.
Department spokeswoman Unathi Binqose said an accident on Wednesday night claimed the lives of three men and a woman.
This comes after a Ford Everest vehicle, with five occupants, overturned on the R58 in Elliot.
Only one of the occupants survived the accident.
The department said on Monday that ten people, eight of whom were pedestrians, died in various road accidents across the province.
As of Monday, Binqose said the cause for the latest road accidents is attributed to drivers who allegedly chased and were under the influence of liquor.
“The Eastern Cape Department of Transport is very concerned about the rate at which people are dying on the province’s roads, especially since the beginning of Level 3 of the state of containment,” Binqose said.
He made a plea to motorists to be responsible for the coming weekend and at the same time warned that traffic authorities would be present on roads everywhere.
