Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison Ghishma Barry will deliver a keynote address at the Provincial Ceremony of the Brandhouse/Road Traffic Management Corporation Number One Taxi Driver Campaign to be held at the Roydon Hotel in Queenstown tomorrow, 1 October, at 12h00.
The campaign is targeted at the taxi industry and is aimed at assisting taxi drivers who are committed to being the best drivers on the road and educates them with regards to road and commuter safety.
This initiative is currently in its second phase, that of Theory and Practical Testing, throughout all the provinces. This phase entails all participating drivers being tested on their theory and practical knowledge, as well as being taken through advanced and defensive driving procedures.
In 2004 Brandhouse created and implemented the Brandhouse/ RTMC Number One Taxi Driver Campaign and formulated it with its CSI policy of community enrichment and not drinking and driving, as it seeks to educate taxi drivers and other road users on road safety and highlights including:
- driver fatigue
- disregard for traffic rules
- drinking and driving
- high speed driving
- un-roadworthiness of vehicles
This year’s the campaign has adopted the slogan ‘Putting Road Safety First”, as it encapsulates the essence of the campaign, which is the overriding driver of this initiative and it aims to deliver responsible role models to the taxi industry as they should embody:
- The true values of responsible driving
- Great customer care driven from both the individual driver as well as the taxi owners.
The campaign is carried out with the endorsement of the Department of Transport who has in turn linked the programme to regional municipalities and taxi associations and this year it is once again endorsed and supported by the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) as well as the National Taxi Alliance (NTA).
Toyota South Africa is a partner of this campaign and they further enhance it by providing the Toyota Advanced Driving Academy that carries out the testing phases of this initiative. This academy utilises the P-drive system during this phase, which was introduced successfully to the campaign in 2008. The system is easy to use and as a result of its varied range of uses will revolutionise road safety training at professional centres or any other locations – for learner, professional drivers, road safety training and all other road-users.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 442 2388
