Programme Director: Mr Kieno Kammies
Executive Director of IMPERIAL Holdings: Mr Tak Hiemstra
First Deputy President of SANTACO: Mr July Msiza
Acting CEO of the RTMC: Mr Collins Letsoalo
Advocate of the Supreme Court: Dr. Lawrence Barit
Chief Director of Road Safety for the National Department of Transport: Rev. Themba Vundla
Panelists and Senior Road Practitioners
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
One could be forgiven for thinking that recent road crashes have, perhaps, been more horrific, more deadly and even more frequent. To be sure, the problem is no bigger than it appears to be.
But, the fact that has been made clear by many of the recent crashes – whether the victims were athletes running for the Soweto Marathon, or taxi commuters on their way home, or pilgrims from Zimbabwe on a religious excursion – road crashes devour people regardless of class, colour or creed.
Just this past Sunday, 6 November, ten (10) Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members were killed when a bus overturned on the N1 highway in Polokwane. The bus driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and it hit a barrier and overturned. Witnesses reportedly said the driver fell asleep.
On Saturday, 5 November a traffic officer (33 years of age), and mother of two children aged two and five, was knocked and killed outside Pietermaritzburg by a speeding motorcyclist.
Road safety is, thus, much more than just the responsibility of government. Road safety is much more than the responsibility of road safety agencies. Road safety is our collective responsibility as society in all spheres of life.
World-wide, road safety campaigns will succeed when all road users change their attitude. Road crashes kill over 14 000 people every year in South Africa, over 1 000 every month and more than 40 people every day, while leaving scores injured. This carnage costs our economy more than R60 billion per annum. Globally, road crashes account for 1.3 million deaths each year.
Currently, pedestrian deaths make up 40% of the total fatalities on our country’s roads. It is an epidemic that kills on the scale of malaria, but which can be prevented and stopped altogether.
Workplace-related road safety
Ladies and gentlemen, a large percentage of these crashes involve company vehicles and occur when an employee is on duty. That alone calls for collaboration between government and private sector companies. It is, therefore, our pleasure that today private sector companies have joined this campaign as Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
In becoming Friends of the Decade, companies such as IMPERIAL Holdings have taken an important step towards helping change the attitude that government alone must stop the carnage on our roads.
IMPERIAL and other such companies represent the broadening of the movement for road safety.
Ladies and gentlemen, each day of the Decade of Action 2011-2020, our efforts will be focused on broadening the front for Road Safety. We know, from our own political experience, that nothing can stand in the way of a people united for a common cause towards a common goal. It is now a fact of history that our own liberation could have been delayed, had we not realised early in our struggle that we had to stand together as a united people against apartheid. In the spirit of the time, we can, again, say that Victory is in sight; Victory is certain! Forwards Ever; Backwards Never!
What the private sector can do
With this goal of unity in action and in mind, like the rest of society, private sector companies must emphasise Road Safety awareness through the following ways:
- Road safety to employees as they drive or commute to work
- Safety during working hours
- Implementing stringent road safety policies to improve compliance to basic road safety rules such as wearing of seatbelts, not using cell phones when driving and
- Stringent consequences if road safety practices are not followed.
Ladies and gentlemen, the socio-economic cost of work-related road traffic crashes and injuries is substantial for both government and the private sector.
It includes the following:
- Lost work-time and production losses
- Emergency medical costs
- Vehicle repair and maintenance costs
- Legal and insurance costs and
- Damage to employee’s reputation.
I take this opportunity to congratulate IMPERIAL for the brave commitment the company has made to become a leading force for change towards ending the carnage on our roads. I urge the entire private sector to adopt IMPERIAL’s selfless commitment to prioritise road safety in the work place.
Decade of action goals and objectives
The efforts of IMPERIAL and other companies now give impetus to the global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which seeks to stabilise and then reduce the level of road traffic fatalities around the world by 2020. As part of the world, we aim to attain this by:
- Developing and implementing sustainable road safety strategies and programmes
- Setting a target for the reduction of road fatalities by 2020, by building on the existing efforts and structures
- Strengthening the management infrastructure and capacity for technical implementation of road safety activities at national, regional and global levels
- Improving the quality of data collection at national, regional and global levels
- Monitoring progress and performance on a number of pre-defined indicators at national, regional and global levels and
- Encouraging increased funding to road safety and better use of existing resources, including through ensuring a road safety component within road infrastructure projects.
Commitment by IMPERIAL
IMPERIAL has demonstrated its commitment by coming forward to work with us in the fight against road deaths, through the launch of the I-Pledge Road Safety Campaign. Most recently, IMPERIAL joined hands with the Department of Transport as a Friend of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. IMPERIAL introduced I-Pledge to its employees in July, and since then the I-Pledge counter has amassed over 25,400 pledges.
The “Safer, friendlier roads start with me” – I-Pledge campaign encourages us to look to our own behaviour and bad habits on the roads. As stated above, road safety campaigns have succeeded around the world where efforts have been directed at change of attitude of road users. IMPERIAL is using its sheer size and geographic footprint to make a difference and to influence other companies to do the same.
The company has 6 800 trucks in the logistics fleet, and has access to over 5 000 sub-contracted vehicles.
IMPERIAL sells 96 453 new and 54 746 used cars each year in South Africa.
IMPERIAL employs some 40 000 people – who are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and this is why the safety of all road users is of paramount importance to us.
IMPERIAL vehicles travel 460 million kilometres each year.
Ladies and gentlemen, in order to change attitude and behaviour, we shall continue to focus our strategy on the three pillars of Engineering, Education and Enforcement. Through Engineering, we aim to provide roads and signage that makes driving and walking safe for all road users.
Through Education, we continue together with our Friends of the Decade, to educate the general public about this cancerous threat to our lives – road crashes.
However, it is our responsibility to ensure continual Enforcement of the laws and rules of the road.
Update on enforcement
As part of our new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP), last month (October Transport Month), 6,336 un-roadworthy public transport and freight vehicles were taken off our roads, with the majority of 1 821 buses, mini-buses and trucks removed in the Mpumalanga province.
More than 46 402 fines were issued to public transport and freight drivers, and 1 460 public transport and truck drivers arrested including 196 for drunk driving, 25 for excessive speed, 8 for reckless and/or negligent driving, 877 for overloading, 73 for false documents and 281 for other offences.
In addition, three motorists appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court in Gauteng on 2 November 2011 and were fined R25 000, R18 000 and R15 000 respectively for speeding. These drivers were arrested for travelling at speeds of 217 km/h, 207 km/h and 195km/h in a 120 km/h zone.
Over the past two months (from 31 August to 30 October 2011), as part of our pre-December holiday traffic law enforcement operations. :
- 623 469 public transport vehicles were stopped and checked
- 2 207 mini-buses, 885 buses and 1 699 trucks discontinued from use for being in an un-roadworthy condition
- 93 945 fines issued for various public transport offences
- more than 2 653 public transport drivers arrested including 371 for drunk driving, 1 947 for overloading, 91 for excessive speed, 28 for reckless and/or negligent driving and 154 in connection with public transport permits.
Through Community Road Safety Councils, our communities and commuters must become the prime movers of road safety programmes. Let safety become the topic of conversation in religious institutions, education centres, and everywhere where two or more are gathered.
In closing, as we head towards December, we call upon every South African to become a Friend of the Decade of Action and do your bit to save lives on the road. We have already commenced with our December holiday law enforcement operations and let me warn you, there will be no mercy for traffic offences. Instead, let the spirit of goodwill reign throughout the country this festive season.
Ladies and gentlemen, road safety is no longer an option; it is an urgent necessity. It is an opportunity to save the lives of millions from an epidemic whose cure is in our hands.
Victory is certain. Forwards Ever, Backwards Never!
Together we can do more! 0861 400 800!
I thank you.
