Mr Jeff Radebe Minister of Transport, Heidelberg Traffic Control Centre
22 November 2007
Programme Director
Heads of Emergency Services
Heads of Traffic Services
Representatives from the South African Police Services (SAPS)
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Today's event marks the launch of "Operation Safer Festive Season" of the
Rolling Enforcement Plan. For many South Africans the festive season is
associated with the loss of lives on our roads as we keep the public informed
about it. The venue for today's event was chosen because the N3 from Heidelberg
to Cedara, a 465 kilometres stretch of road, is a section of one of the major
routes in the country that is the busiest during this time of the year and
there is a project known as the N3 safe highway in which four provincial
authorities participate; Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
As we approach the festive season road traffic volumes will increase as
holidaymakers, scholars, tourists, industry workers and religious groups will
be making their way to various destinations in the country. Plans are in place
to combat the unnecessary loss of lives on our roads this festive season. For
the period 1 December 2006 to 10 January 2007, the number of fatalities was 1
726 from 1 369 fatal crashes.
These figures reflected a reduction of 81 fatalities and 59 fatal crashes as
compared to the figures for a similar period 2005/06 the year preceding year. A
4,67% decrease in fatalities and 4,13% decrease in fatal crashes. The
reductions were experienced amidst the increase of 7,65% in the vehicle
population, which rose from 7,13 million to 7,65 million vehicles. The number
of fatal crashes per 10 000 vehicles decreased by 10,7%. Fewer buses and
mini-bus taxis were involved in fatal crashes last year than the year before,
down from 124 to 61.
These are the statistical figures that reflect real loss of human lives.
Relatives, brothers, sisters, children, uncles and aunts are among some people
who may still be suffering from the trauma of losing their loved ones,
breadwinners, potential leaders and family members. The reductions were due to
combined efforts by government and road users who complied with traffic rules.
Remarkable reductions can be achieved with added effort by all road users in
ensuring that they voluntarily abide by the rules.
Human factors to fatal crashes showed a change from 88,86% to 81,72%, whilst
vehicle and road factors increased from 4,94% to 7,30% and 6,19% to 10,99%
respectively. The cost of crashes leads to the loss of more than 14 000 lives,
7 000 permanently disabled people and 40 000 serious injuries annually, as well
as around R46 billion cost to the state, communities and individuals. The three
major human factors are pedestrian jay-walking, speed too high for
circumstances and hit-and-run, which combined accounted for more than 96,9% of
the human factors. This attests to the fact that if we can improve on voluntary
law compliance and exercise more caution when using the roads, we can achieve
more.
Ladies and gentlemen, as a country we are faced with a battle to improve the
road safety record, the statistics I have alluded to before challenge us all to
do something to drastically reduce the carnage on our roads. Government alone
will not win this battle; the support of all road users is required to win the
battle. Responsible citizens do not need to be policed all the time to comply
with the road traffic rules.
The N3, Heidelberg to Cedara, is one route on which our battle plan is to
have at every 50 kilometres interval, 16 hours a day, have some form of law
enforcement operation this festive season. The N1 between Gauteng and Limpopo
is another route that will experience a lot of traffic during this period due
to the Moria Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pilgrimage, the African National
Congress (ANC) National Conference and other holiday travellers to Limpopo and
up to Beit Bridge leading to Zimbabwe.
Ladies and gentlemen, the main aim of this event today is to promote
co-operation between different law enforcement agencies, to inform the media
and the traffic fraternity about the Rolling Enforcement Plan which is in its
fourth phase as a year-round plan. The Rolling Enforcement Plan is seamless law
enforcement product of the Law Enforcement Technical Committee (Letcom) where
all provinces, metros and other local authorities strategise on how to
co-ordinate the law enforcement activities to improve effectiveness.
The identified law enforcement interventions are therefore implemented by
all role players during the same period, thereby giving the effect of
co-ordinated effort and better results. Communication also focuses on the same
themes as law enforcement to reinforce the message in an effort to change the
attitude of road users. The plan is to vigorously embark on law enforcement
initiatives and further enhance the effectiveness of the activities with
communication efforts in support thereof. The added advantage is that all role
players (provinces, metros and municipalities) have agreed to work in a
co-ordinated manner. This fourth phase of the Rolling Enforcement Plan ends in
March 2008.
Some of its special focal areas are as follows:
* driver fitness: documentation, fatigue and alcohol abuse
* moving violations: barrier lines, red light infringements, cell phones,
over-speeding
* overloading: passenger and freight transport vehicles
* vehicle fitness: documentation, roadworthiness and registration
plate enforcement
* pedestrian safety: pedestrian jay-walking, drink and walk
* seat belts: Front and rear seat vehicle occupants
* vehicle visibility: defective front and rear lamps
* following distances between heavy vehicles, inconsiderate driving
The reason for this is that most crashes are preceded by a road traffic
violation. This festive season, the focus will be on moving violations; vehicle
fitness; driver behaviour and documentation. The law enforcement activities
shall include roadblocks, roadside checkpoints, patrols and real speed
monitoring and public transport offences.
Note should be taken that various law enforcement agencies will join hands
and intensify law enforcement drives aimed at reducing the carnage on South
African roads. These agencies will also be there to offer assistance to law
abiding road users. More and more it seems vehicles are being used as tools to
commit crime or to run away from the crime scene by criminals who target
innocent citizens and tourists this season.
The law enforcement agencies will make use of technology such as the Morphe
Touch, a system that reads finger prints and links it to the criminal records
of individuals in our society to assist in removing such elements from society.
The number plate recognition system will also be used to identify vehicles with
outstanding fines and clamp down on road traffic offenders who continue to be a
threat to road safety during this festive season.
The Rolling Enforcement Plan is underpinned by a commitment to:
* stop and check a minimum of 15 vehicles per officer per eight hour
shift
* vigorously pursue and fine vehicles travelling without registration plates or
permits
* do targeted alcohol enforcement exercises especially during weekends, at
night and in residential areas especially holiday spots
* do speed measurement exercises mainly in hazardous locations.
May all road users enjoy the festive season; let everyone of us lend a hand
in improving safety on our roads. As government we firmly believe that if all
South African unite against the causes of crashes and negative road behaviour,
those who visit us, tourists, businesspeople, 2010 Federation of International
Football Association (Fifa) World Cup fans and others will definitely resemble
and follow behind our footsteps. Commitment and determination to safe road use
behaviour is undoubtedly a key competence to nations that are looking for
growth through channelling resources to the right areas as against road
crashes.
Our infrastructure ladies and gentlemen, is being improved at a cost of
billions of rands. It makes a lot of sense if our investments in infrastructure
contribute drastically to road safety and saving thousands of lives every
year.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, I want to encourage all of us who are
travelling during the festive season to take heed and obey the rules of the
road, and move ahead into the New Year with a spirit of growth and
development.
Lets all drive to arrive alive and lets all arrive alive!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
22 November 2007
Source: SAPA
