At unannounced rest stops staged by the Mpumalanga Department for Community Safety, Security and Liaison yesterday, 22 December 2011 over 5 200 vehicles were screened and these operations saw more than 850 drivers afforded time to rest while 4 111 passengers receiving road safety education.
The rest stop programmes were mounted on the N4 Toll road at the Nkomazi Plaza and Belfast N4. Both operations comprised of traffic officers, SAPS members, Transport Inspectorate unit, local municipal officers and road safety officials.
The Nkomazi operation took place between 10:00 and 16:00 while the Belfast rest stop, which was led by MEC Vusi Shongwe and departmental head Mr Thulani Sibuyi, was staged between 20:00 last night and 06:00 in the morning.
Shongwe was happy that drivers were targeted because they have the tendency of driving long distances without resting, putting the lives of their passengers and other motorists in danger.
“Passengers are also key on these operations because others put pressure on the drivers to drive non-stop in order to reach their destinations quicker. We need a buy-in from passengers to help government in encouraging drivers to frequently rest, that is the reason we also subject them (passengers) to road safety education at the rest stops,” said Shongwe.
Traffic officers did not close their eyes on unroadworthy vehicles and other road traffic infringements as 36 vehicles were discontinued and 13, including trailers were impounded.
Of the vehicles stopped, 287 motorists were also issued with traffic fines for various violations, while warrants and summons were also issued during the operations.
Shongwe has praised the team of officials saying that commitment is the only recipe for success in the fight against general criminality and the reduction of road crashes.
The department has a lineup of road safety activities aimed at changing road users’ behavior towards their approach on road safety. The activities include road blocks, rest stops, speed monitoring and random patrols.
“By intensifying these activities, we hope to suppress incidences of road accidents and deaths on our roads to be at a very low figure, so road users should brace themselves for more road safety activities this festive season,” said Sibuyi.
Meanwhile, MEC Shongwe sends condolences to the family of the renowned athlete, Mr Zithulele Singce who died last night in an accident involving the car he was driving and a truck on the Balfour-Nigel road.
Singce was driving a bakkie towing a trailer which was loaded a vehicle on it. Preliminary investigation indicates that the bakkie was overpowered by the load of the trailer, rolled backwards and jack-knifed. A truck approached and collided with Singce’s vehicle and he was killed on impact.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
