The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Community Safety is hosting the national Driver of the Year (DoTY) Competition as part of the initiatives to reduce the carnage on our roads. The event is being sponsored by, among others, ENGEN and SCANIA South Africa.
The competition details are as follows:
Date: 17 to 19 November 2010
Venue: Gallagher Estate, Midrand (Gauteng)
The competition will be followed by the awards function which will be held as follows:
Date: 19 November 2010
Venue: Gallagher Estate, Midrand (Gauteng)
Time: 18h00
All media are invited.
The main objectives of DoTY, amongst other reasons, are to prevent and reduce crashes involving heavy motor vehicles and to educate professional drivers on issues of road safety. These objectives are in line with the Millennium Development Goal of halving road traffic fatalities by 2014 as adopted by the Ministers of Transport at the 2006 African Union (AU) Conference.
The championship also serves as an evaluation and training tool to assess the skills and knowledge of drivers. Heavy motor vehicles such as busses contribute massively to an alarming number of fatalities that the country endures every day and it is through this kind of programmes that we can make an impact in improving safety on our roads.
Hundred and two (102) professional drivers who were selected through a rigorous process of eliminations from regional and provincial championships in 2009/10 will be contesting on seven categories, which are:
- Articulated Truck (Code EC)
- Rigid Truck above 16,000 Kg (Code C1)
- Novice (22 Years and younger) Driver: Rigid Truck above 6 000 kg (Code C1)
- Bus above 16 000 Kg (Code C1)
- Special Category for ladies: Bus above 16 000 Kg (Code C1)
- Delivery Van below 3 500 kg (Code B & EB)
- Rigid Truck with four-wheel trailer (Code EC1)
The driver of the year project also equips participants with skills that benefit their employers in terms of reduced fleet operations and maintenance costs and the public through safe driving skills.
This national driver championship takes place annually and winners on each category gain entry to participate in the International championship held bi-annually, which South Africa will be hosting in 2012.
For further information please contact:
Mr Muthuhadini Madzivhandila
Cell: 071 680 3437
Media RSVPs:
Zodwa Mtsweni
Cell: 072 311 3500 or 079 511 9734
