The national Driver of the Year Competition, which involves professional drivers from all provinces, takes off this morning in Polokwane. The activities for the day include theory test; track layout; and welcome function.
The official opening takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, 20 October. This championship ends on Friday with the awards function during which winners will be crowned.
Competition for professional drivers to tackle road carnage
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in partnership with the Limpopo Department of Roads and Public Transport will be hosting the national Driver of the Year Competition (DoTY) as part of the initiatives to reduce the carnage on our roads. The competition details are as follows:
Date: 18 to 23 October 2009
Venue: Polokwane International Airport, Polokwane (Limpopo)
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 (MDG) of halving road traffic fatalities by 2014 as adopted by the Ministers of Transport at the 2006 African Union 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 twenty three (123) professional drivers who were selected through a rigorous process of eliminations from regional and provincial championships in 2008 will be contesting on seven categories, which are:
* Articulated truck (Code EC)
* Rigid truck above 16,000Kg (Code C1)
* Novice (22 years and younger) driver: rigid truck above 6,000Kg (Code C1)
* Bus above 16,000Kg (Code C1)
* Special category for ladies: bus above 16,000Kg (Code C1)
* Delivery van below 3,500Kg (Code B and 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 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.
Media Contacts:
Tshino Mavhusha
Cell: 073 576 9474
Thandi Moya
Cell: 071 680 3445
Issued by: Road Traffic Management Corporation
19 October 2009
