Forty five professional drivers who have reached the final phase of the 2009 North West Road Safety Drivers’ Skills Enhancement programme are to compete for the coveted provincial Driver of the Year competition to be held at Mmabatho Stadium parking area as from Friday, 18 to Saturday, 19 September 2009.
The provincial initiative in its second year attracted two hundred and ninety professional drivers from the public transport system who participated at district levels. The objective of the programme is to enhance driving skills of public driving permit holders and promote driver education in the province in an effort to reduce road accidents involving busses and other commercial vehicles.
According to North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa, the programme serves as an incentive to the business sector to invest in advanced driver training to obtain excellent return on investment in the form of reduced maintenance costs and improved productivity.
Among the benefits that heavy motor vehicle drivers for busses, rigid trucks (with and without trailer), articulated truck and panel or delivery van derive from participation in the programme, is the recognition as provincial road safety ambassadors, enhanced professional driving image and improved standards and knowledge of driving.
In what is to be a humdinger, the entertainment and action packed programme for the two days also offers skid monster and high speed chasing demonstrations that will run parallel to the competition. Jumping castles for children and other entertainment will be on offer free of charge.
The provincial winners of the competition will proceed to represent the province at the national driver of the year competition to be held 23 to 26 October 2009 in Limpopo.
The programme is among others co-sponsored by Man Truck and Bus, Volvo, Atamelang Bus Transport, Mafikeng Auto, Magalies Water and Luca Del Gatto and is a partnership of the North West Department of Public Safety with RAC Driving Solutions, a subsidiary of Risk Administrative Consultants (Pty).
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Fax: 018 381 9164
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Public Safety, North West Provincial Government
14 September 2009
