Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has refuted claims that traffic law enforcement is more about making money than contributing to road safety.
This follows recent media reports, including the SABC3 investigative documentary Special Assignment aired on 11 August 2009, based on findings from a month-long investigation of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s (JMPD) alleged “under-trained metro cops, sub-standard equipment, illegal trapping, and the illegal use of speed cameras - also known as ‘weapons of mass persecution.’”
“There are currently approximately 700 000 road crashes in South Africa per annum, resulting in about 15 000 deaths and 50 000 serious injuries, at a cost of almost R43 billion.
“The overall objective of traffic law enforcement is saving lives. Speed remains a major contributory factor to motor vehicle collisions in the country. Increased traffic volumes have made it no longer safe, for both officers and motorists, to carry out manual traffic enforcement. Therefore, camera law enforcement is a necessity. However, the primary purpose of cameras is to address road safety and nothing else. Cameras constitute not more than 30% of all law enforcement activities and must comply with certain prescribed norms and standards.
“In order to further reduce road traffic offences and road crashes, Traffic Officers will soon be provided with wireless, hand-held Pocket Computers that will enable continuous, fast, real-time electronic access from the road side to the National Traffic Information System (Natis) via a supporting computer processor and information system. The specially developed software will enable officers to record traffic violations and road crashes electronically at the road side via a central server to a traffic offence register. A variety of traffic law enforcement reports will be generated from the system, including the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of individual officers and traffic authorities.
“An intensive enforcement programme results in several benefits including saving lives, fewer serious injuries that result in shorter hospital stays, reduced costs to emergency services, reduced Road Accident Fund claims, reduced costs to injured "workers" who play a pivotal role in contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country and reduced delays as a result of road closures.
“As government, we want to assure all South Africans that, through the Department of Transport, we are working tirelessly towards strategic priorities for an effective and efficient road traffic safety management system.
“The process to roll-out the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) and the Point’s Demerit System (PDS) is fully underway. The objectives of AARTO include encouraging law compliance, payment of traffic fines, establishing a transparent procedure for the efficient and effective adjudication of infringements and alleviating the burden on the courts,” said Minister Ndebele.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
13 August 2009
