The Department of Transport hosted a two-day National Road Safety Summit on Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 February 2010 at the Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg.
During the launch of the Arrive Alive Festive Season Campaign in 2009 Minister Ndebele emphasised road safety as one of the key priorities for the department. In keeping with this commitment, the Minister officially addressed the summit, attended by provincial transport MECs, the Director-General of Transport, provincial heads of transport departments, transport entities, road safety stakeholders and delegates from all provinces.
Summit delegates deliberated on and made recommendations regarding critical road safety related matters, among which were:
* A review of the road safety policy
* The implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO)
* A review of the Road Accident Fund
* The improvement of public transport in South Africa and
* Accident investigation
The recommendations will be properly consolidated and used to address identified road safety policy shortfalls and to enhance more road safety awareness and vigilance in communities.
During the two-day deliberations, a National Road Safety Steering Committee was nominated comprising delegates from the different provinces, with the ultimate objective of establishing a National Road Safety Council (NRSC). The NRSC, expected to be in place in May, will comprise representatives from all provinces and be responsible for the implementation and sustainability of road safety initiatives in the country.
The NRSC will facilitate the establishment of local, district and provincial road safety councils, thus taking road safety to all levels of the community. Another key objective of the summit was to focus on forming partnerships to create ownership of the road safety programme, as well as ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with road safety throughout the country.
“We have no other option but to act individually, collectively, and as national government and through multilateral formations to stop this carnage, it is time for all of us to commit to a decade of action for road safety,” said Minister Ndebele during the Summit.
Annually, approximately 14 000 lives are lost unnecessarily on South African roads as a result of road crashes, this carnage can be avoided.
Road safety is everybody's responsibility. Play your part!
Enquiries:
Sam Monareng
Cell: 083 326 1521
Issued by: Department of Transport
27 February 2010
