Two women leap from speeding car

NKOMAZI – Two women survived a terrifying ordeal when they jumped from a speeding vehicle that had allegedly developed brake failure.

The incident happened along the MR1 Public Road near Nkomazi Shopping Complex, when a Honda Fit moving towards Mbabane reportedly developed mechanical problems, resulting in loss of brake control.

The two passengers made a split-second decision to leap from the moving vehicle in a desperate attempt to save their lives.

According to police information, both women sustained injuries and were rushed to Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital for medical attention. One of the passengers suffered injuries to her hands, ankles and thighs, as well as bruises to her abdomen. She was treated and later discharged. The second passenger sustained serious injuries across her body and was admitted for further treatment.

The driver of the vehicle, whose registration details have not yet been established, reportedly did not stop following the incident. Police have instituted investigations into the matter.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the vehicle swerved along the stretch of road before the two women were seen tumbling on the roadside. Bystanders rushed to assist them and alerted emergency services. The incident comes against the backdrop of ongoing concerns about road safety in the kingdom. Recent figures released by the Royal Eswatini Police Service show that road traffic accidents remain alarmingly high across the country.

In 2025, the kingdom recorded more than 6 000 road crashes, with over 150 fatalities reported. Authorities have repeatedly cited speeding, reckless overtaking, drink-driving and vehicle defects as leading contributors to fatal and serious collisions.

Mechanical failure, while less common than human error, remains a risk factor, particularly where vehicles are not regularly serviced or are driven despite known faults.

The Road Safety Council of Eswatini has, in recent years, intensified public education campaigns, warning motorists about the importance of vehicle roadworthiness and adherence to traffic laws. The council has stressed that preventative maintenance, especially brake checks, is critical in reducing avoidable accidents.

Pedestrians and passengers continue to bear a significant portion of the human cost of crashes. Police statistics show that vulnerable road users account for a substantial percentage of fatalities annually.

In several past media reports, pedestrians were identified as leading victims of road deaths, underscoring how road trauma extends beyond drivers alone.

Beyond the immediate injuries and loss of life, road crashes carry a heavy economic burden. The Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund has paid out hundreds of millions of Emalangeni in compensation to crash victims and their families over recent years.

These figures reflect not only the frequency of accidents, but also their long-term consequences for households and communities.

Government has aligned itself with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, committing to reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by the end of the decade. Strategies include stricter enforcement, infrastructure improvements and intensified public awareness drives. Despite these interventions, enforcement agencies acknowledge that behavioural change remains a key challenge. Speeding and disregard for road rules continue to feature prominently in accident reports.