Fifty-five professional drivers will take to the streets to demonstrate their advanced driving skills and road safety consciousness for the coveted North West Driver Skills Enhancement Programme Championship. The annual two-day provincial competition starts at the Mmabatho Stadium Parking Lot in Mahikeng on Thursday.
North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono says that the objective provincial initiative which is in its fourth year is to enhance driving skills of public driving permit holders and to promote driver education in the province in an effort to reduce road accidents and involving busses and other commercial vehicles.
Mohono says that among the benefits that participants derive from participating in the programme is recognition as provincial road safety ambassadors, enhanced professional driving image and improved standards and knowledge of driving.
The popular programme which has thus far attracted over 925 participants is a culmination of stiff eliminations in the heavy motor vehicle, bus (male and female), lady driver, rigid trucks(with and without trailer), and articulated and panel van categories that started at district level earlier this month.
Two hundred and seventy three professional drivers from the private and public transport sector, government and private individuals participated in this year’s programme.
The initiative which involves driver theory tests, pre-trip tests, road tests and obstacles maneuvering has contributed significantly towards entrenching road safety consciousness among professional drivers and contributed significantly towards reducing road accidents involving heavy motor vehicles and commercial vehicles in the province.
The programme sponsored by Man Truck and Bus and Atamelang Bus Service serves as an incentive to the business sector to invest in advanced driver training in order to obtain excellent return on investment in the form of reduced maintenance costs and improved productivity.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0140
Fax: 018 381 0328
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: Lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
