In an effort to ensure that the department decisively deals with road carnage challenges facing public transport users, MEC for Transport launched the 2012 Easter Weekend Arrive Alive Campaign at Mqhekezweni turn off in Mthatha today.
This follows a period between 2008 and 2011, when South Africa experienced a number of serious accidents during the Easter period and the major common contributing factors were:
- Speeding
- Vehicle defects, especially tyre failure, brakes and steering mechanisms
- Moving violations such as dangerous overtaking
- Abuse of alcohol by drivers and pedestrians
- Fatigue, which mainly affected long distance drivers
- Lack of pedestrian compliance
- Overloading of goods and passengers
- The non-wearing of seatbelts played a major role in fatalities
“In South Africa, 40 people are dying daily on our roads and that requires all of us to do something about it, as the department, we remain committed to ensure that we deal decisively with the challenges facing our traffic officers, especially the shortage of resources. The priority at this stage is the working resources, especially vehicles in order to make the current contingent productive
To date, we have procured:
- 24 sedan vehicles for Traffic Law Enforcement which are ready for distribution to various districts
- 64 bakkies have been ordered and the first delivery of 38 has already been made. The rest will be delivered in April 2012 and about 60 of these bakkies will be converted into Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles,” said Marawu.
MEC Marawu reiterated a call for long distance public transport vehicles to have at least two drivers per trip in order to avoid fatigue and further articulated that Public transport passenger vehicles such as long distance buses, mini-bus taxis, private bakkies and trailers remain huge challenges, especially for those pilgrims who utilise these types of vehicles for attending various religious gatherings.
The MEC also called on for the 24 hours visibility of Traffic officers and requested them to continue working together with other law enforcement agencies with a clear understanding of the special instructions for this period, which are as follows:
1. The requirements of active stopping and checking a minimum of 15 vehicles per officer per eight hour shift will be enforced by all participating authorities.
2. All traffic offences must be targeted, however, a special enforcement focus will be done on the wearing of seatbelts both, front and rear and would continue indefinitely so as to increase the wearing rate by 25%.
3. Vehicles travelling without number plates or permits must be vigorously prosecuted.
4. Special targeted alcohol enforcement exercises must be carried out by all authorities especially during weekends, when abuse of alcohol is most common.
5. Speed measurement exercises must be targeted mainly before and in harzadous locations and these types of interventions must be policed smartly utilising minimum manpower for maximum impact. These exercises must concentrate on reducing the speeds rather than trapping motorists for funds generation.
6. All efforts must be made to undertake enforcement operations on critical days, times and routes to have the greatest impact on offences and accidents.
7. Traffic personnel must at all times act in a professional and ethical manner ensuring that the motorists’ support for road safety is secured.
8. Roadblocks must be set up and manned in a professional manner to avoid unnecessary delays and inconveniences to the motorists.
9. The Management of the Department of Transport will be visible in order to supervise, monitor and evaluate operations.
10. Our road safety officials will be visible at all roadblocks, taxi and bus ranks, taverns and shopping centres to popularise road safety during this critical period.
