Medical service launched on notorious road

To curb the high death toll on the stretch of N1 in the Karoo, known as the road of death, the Western Cape MEC for Health, Pierre Uys, launched a new emergency medical service on the highway between Laingsburg and Beaufort West today. The service, based at Leeu-Gamka, will significantly improve response times to accidents in the area, which claim many lives each year. Health spokesperson Herman van der Westhuizen told NewsFlash the service will relieve the burden on emergency services in towns in the Karoo. The provincial traffic department will also be receiving 20 new vehicles to assist in policing during the festive season.