Programme Director: Ms B. E Nkuna
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport: Dr Clifford Mkasi
Councillor Mnisi
HoD Mohlasedi
Representatives of transport entities
Representatives of transport operators
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Today we mark the launch of the Community Road Safety Council in Mpumalanga. In December 2009, Minister Ndebele made a commitment that the Department of Transport will initiate the establishment of Provincial Road Safety Councils to counter and reduce the frequent rate of fatal crashes on our roads. Every day we continue to witness the continued carnage on South African roads. We cannot continue to lose and mourn our beloved ones on a daily basis through road carnage.
On 11 January 2011, Minister Ndebele highlighted that in 2009/10 there were 1 582 fatalities out of 1 247 fatal crashes during the festive season. He said by the time of finalising last year's festive season report, the number of fatalities had increased to 1 761 from December 2009 to 11 January 2010. Between December 2010 and 8 January 2011, 1 221 fatal crashes had occurred resulting in 1 551 fatalities. The major contributory factors to the 2010/11 festive season fatal crashes include:
- Speeding
- Overtaking when not safe to do so
- Fatigue
- Overloading
- Tyre burst
Establishment of Community Road Safety Forums
Having realised that road safety is increasingly becoming a challenge; Minister Ndebele initiated to kick start the Road Safety campaign through the establishment of Community Road Safety Councils in all provinces. The establishment of a Community Road Safety Council is the first step to providing safer roads in South Africa.
Each province is unique but the guiding principle will remain the same. The role of Community Road Safety Community Forums is:
- To act as the implementation structure of road safety programmes at local, district and provincial level.
- Facilitate communities involvement in the development of road safety projects.
- Serve as an advisory body of government on road safety issues that affects communities and
- To assist law enforcement in ensuring compliance with the rules of the road
The department realises that in order to win and reduce the carnage on our roads, road safety should become a community initiative. It is the responsibility of every citizen in South Africa to make our roads safe.
That is why the Department of Transport is at the forefront of the establishment of Community Road Safety Councils nationally. Some of key reasons why this is being done are that:
- Community Road Safety Councils (CRSCs) are key in the establishment of a long-term program for the development of road safety in provinces.
- They ensure community participation in the formalisation and implementation of policies of the Department at a local level, thus ensuring the allocation of resources in hot spots identified by the community which will have maximum impact.
- CRSCs facilitate economic involvement of local communities in the projects of the Department at a local level where they will yield results and fast track service delivery that communities yearn for.
The Road Safety Council being launched today will be instrumental in assisting our law enforcement agencies in ensuring that communities comply with road traffic regulations. This structure will make sure that road safety is community driven and people will have ownership of awareness campaigns and enable the community to tackle the root causes of road fatalities, which among others is alcohol and substance abuse.
The launch of this CRSC bears testimony to the department's efforts to bring the government to the people, so that the community is involved in the planning of awareness campaigns, in taxi ranks, taverns and road blocks including all other areas that the community together with the DoT and Road Traffic Enforcement Agencies deem fit and appropriate.
With such a body in place local government participation and service delivery will be taken to new heights because now with the full participation of the community, identification of hazardous areas and liaising with traffic authorities to put in place appropriate preventative measures will be made much more efficient. The CRSC will also assist in the implementation of Road Safety Education programmes in schools, churches, community organisations and all other identified areas by the community.
However, let us be mindful that the launch of this Community Road Safety Council is only the first step. The appointed CRSC members have to undergo serious capacity building, attend monthly/bimonthly meetings to give guidance and support on projects. All this requires commitment, dedication and further education and training for the council members.
The Department of Transport is confident that the establishment of Community Road Safety Councils will compliment the work that is being done through other initiatives such as the Make Roads Safe Campaign and the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP). Just to highlight some of the major achievements through these initiatives; the NREP has so far resulted in a record 4 929 095 vehicles and drivers being checked and more than 2 million fines issued for various traffic offences from 1 October 2010 to 17 January 2011.
In addition more than 7 000 drivers have been arrested for drinking and driving recklessly and negligent driving and speeding. More than 26 000 vehicles, including thousands of buses and mini-buses have been impounded and discontinued from use. I must stress that the plan continues unabated.
New National Enforcement Plan
As a country we have an obligation to ascertain that the New National Enforcement Plan works to its maximum by implementing all the action plans that are encompassed in it.
- The National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) is part of the legacy which will be in support of the United Nations (UN) Make Roads Safer Campaign.
- The NREP was developed in consultation with all relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure a month-to-month seamless campaign that focuses on various driver and vehicle fitness issues.
- Through the NREP we hope to have a unified, consistent and harmonised approach to traffic law enforcement which will make an impact on offences and crashes.
- To make this plan work, we need the commitment of every traffic chief in the country and all representatives of Community Road Safety Forums.
- We are one country and our success depends on the contribution of every dedicated and loyal road safety practitioner out there.
- It is hoped that authorities will adapt, integrate and adopt this plan together with their individual plans in order to separate local and regional issues and harmonise with national prerogatives.
- Underscoring this plan is the target to stop and check a minimum of 1 million vehicles, through one thousand roadside check-points, nation-wide, per month
- The support of the various political principles at local, provincial and national levels must be sought to add weight to and generate exposure for the programme.
The UN has proclaimed the period 2010 to 2020 as the DECADE OF ACTION for Road Safety with a goal to stabilise and then reduce the global forecast levels of road traffic fatalities by increasing activities conducted at the national levels. The G20 and the World Bank have endorsed the Decade of Action.
A number of States supported the UN resolution of establishing the Decade of Action committing to work towards achieving this ambitious objective. Subsequently, the U.N. General Assembly in March 2010 proclaimed that 2010 - 2020 will be the "Decade of Action for Road Safety under the theme of "Make Roads Safe" recognising the tremendous global burden of fatalities and injuries resulting from road crashes each year.
We must pool our resources together nationally, provincially and at municipal level through various structures and initiatives for us to win the war against road traffic crashes.
I thank you
Source: SAPA
