Fellow South Africans, tourists and visitors.
Christmas is upon us and expectation of merry-making is permeating every space. It is an inalienable right for all us to celebrate the Holy Birth of God’s Beloved Son.
Because of the economic and labour patterns in our country, many are expected to be on the road during this time, travelling to families, relatives and friends for bonding, rest and festivities, let us remember that we have to Arrive Alive, wherever we are headed.
As Minister of Transport in our country, I make the call to all our road users to heed all the laws, rules and regulations governing the use of the road.
- Your vehicle must be roadworthy,
- Seatbelts and other restraints for children of age ten (10) and less must be intact,
- Do not load more than the specified capacity of the vehicle,
- Go onto the road determined to observe legal speed limits as shown on the road signs,
- Do not drink alcohol before you go behind the wheel,
- Make sure you do not overtake on a barrier line or at the rise of a summit,
- Keep left and pass right, where the signs indicate and the road permits,
- Maintain a safe following distance,
- Respect and love other road user, conceding right of way where required, and
- Be calm, restrain your temper and avoid road rage
- Take time to rest at periodic intervals.
We trust that our law enforcement agencies and officers will be all over our roads and doing what they’re best at: securing our roads, guiding our road users and providing all required services to save lives. Law enforcement officers are advised to act decisively and without fear or favour. We expect cooperation with our officers, police and emergency rescue services from all South Africans, tourists and visitors.
I commend our road safety stakeholders for their sterling work in the year, and urge them to be on their most active and vocal, these being but not limited to; our sister departments such as health, basic and higher education, our agencies in the department, our provincial road safety councils, our taxi and bus associations, our police services, our faith based formations and many non-governmental organisations.
On Christmas day I will be home at Tshidilamolomo, near Mahikeng.
Merry Christmas and a Happy, prosperous New Year to all of us.
Enquiries:
Tiyani Rikhotso
Cell: 073 570 1275
