As part of ensuring road safety during 2011/12 festive season, a number of Road Safety educational programs were conducted by the Eastern Cape Department of Transport throughout the Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality.
The purpose of the educational programmes was to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that will enable pedestrians, drivers and passengers to use the road safely. This is after it had come to the attention of the department that road fatalities represent a large proportion of all deaths in our country and many accidents are due to drinking and driving, drinking and walking, seatbelt wearing, fatigue, unsafe crossing and speed.
Road Safety Officers targeted filling stations, malls, taverns, taxi ranks and also roadblocks with a specific focus on Pedestrian and Passenger/Commuter Safety in order to change the behaviour and attitude of road users on the road and to instil a culture of safe traffic participation. These education programmes were conducted in collaboration with Faith Based Organisation, Private Business, Taxi Associations, Law Enforcement Agencies and Local Communities.
One such educational programmes, was conducted in a form of a Street Bash at Veeplas, on 24 December 2011 in partnership with Speak Easy Tavern, Coca Cola, South African Police Service, Traffic Control, Eastern Cape Motors and Alcohol Killer Company. The idea was prompted by the high volume of traffic and pedestrian accidents which are caused by drinking and walking.
Coca Cola provided the Waya Waya Truck, East Cape Motor made an exhibition on safer cars, Alcohol Killer supplied and promoted a drink which kills alcohol in a body and make one sober, Road Safety Officers conducted Road Safety Education and distributing promotional material.
The programme was summed up with Arrive Alive prayer at Njoli Square together with Uncedo delegates, Faith Based Organisations, taxi drivers and the community.
MEC for Transport, Thandiswa Marawu has applauded the initiative and said: “in the past road safety education was non-continuous or even non-existent and road users were never exposed to this kind of road safety education that is being provided by the department of Transport”.
