T Mhlahlo: Launch of Global Road Safety Week

24 April 2007

Today we join millions from all over the world in spreading the message of
promotion of safety on our roads.

Road accidents continue to frustrate development as they usually take away
our loved ones, who are mostly active participants in the economy.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), each year road crashes
kill nearly 1,2 million people and injure or disable 20 to 50 million more
across the world.

As a developing country, South Africa enjoys a period of high economic
growth rate which provides space for the previously marginalised individuals
particularly the youth to participate actively in the economy.

There are growing numbers of young people, who have entered the job market
and have bought new cars. This means our road network is dominated by
inexperienced drivers who pose a huge risk to other road users.

The recently released report of the National Association of Automobile
Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) shows that our country's motor industry
experienced a year on year growth of 22% in 2004, 28% in 2005 and 17% in
2006.

Even the Reserve Bank's announcements of higher interest rates could not
prevent the growth in the number of people, who are buying cars.

This year, there is an expected increase in car sales by between 4% and
7%.

Over the past three years, cars have become more affordable and some
manufacturers have reduced their prices some by 15%.

Secondly, the emergence of a strong black middle class market that has
purchased between 25% and 40% of the motor vehicles in South Africa has become
a significant factor.

The continuous increase on the number of vehicles that are being registered
in the Eastern Cape and the demand for number confirm this research.

The demand for personalised and specific number plates in this province is
increasing beyond expectations resulting in revenue collected exceeding the
target of R293 000 as at the end of December 2006 by R1,428 million.

This trend forces government to invest more on public transport in an effort
to prevent congestion on our roads and to further increase road traffic safety
awareness with a particular focus on the new drivers.

We have already started with the recapitalisation of old taxis in South
Africa and government is investing R7,7 billion in this project.

In the Eastern Cape, already 828 taxis have been submitted at the main
scrapping site in Zwelitsha and 730 taxi operators have received their R50 000
scrapping allowance, which amounts to more than R36 million that has been
paid.

We are further making visible and decisive interventions in improving the
conditions of buses in the province.

We are presently assisting the small bus operators in the former Transkei
region with the establishment of Africa's best 350, a single legal entity
established by the bus operators themselves.

The first new 55 buses will arrive on 1 July 2007 and will be distributed to
the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts. This means 21 more routes will be
opened, which have not been operated in the recent past. It will further
enhance the access of the communities to job opportunities, health and
education centres and other trip generators by more than 25% compared to what
it is today. This phase will demand a subsidy of R30 million.

The second phase will take off in April 2008 with 56 buses that will be
distributed to the Amathole and Chris Hani districts. The last phase of
distribution of another 55 buses is expected in April 2009 with more buses for
the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts.

When all three phases of 166 routes are implemented, the subsidy would
amount to approximately R73 million per annum.

The Department has allocated R5 million for the new financial year to
continue with the recapitalisation of the bus fleet of Mayibuye Transport
Corporation.

This year we will continue with a massive roll out of our Shova Lula Bicycle
Project and 5 339 bicycles have been purchased, of which 800 will be
distributed in the Amathole District. These bicycles will benefit learners who
reside in rural areas and travel long distances to reach schools.

As we continue to initiate various programmes that seek to facilitate the
movement of people and goods, we are further charged with a responsibility to
increase road safety awareness.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated April 23-29, 2007 as
Global Road Safety Week.

This resolution invites the United Nations (UN) member states to organise
and host public awareness activities to underscore the preventable nature of
road traffic crashes and to educate the public on the impact that accidents
have on global socio-economic conditions.

All countries in the world have realised the importance of investing on road
safety initiatives through deliberate and determined efforts of many sectors of
society, both governmental and non-governmental.

This year the focus is on young road users including young drivers,
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists who make up a high proportion of those
suffering death, injury and disability on the roads.

During this week a large number of international, national and local road
safety events will be hosted all over the world. Many partners will participate
in the organisation and implementation including UN, government agencies as
well as civil society and the private sector.

I would like to commend the contribution of Clear Vision Optometrists, which
is our partner in this programme.

We need more partners particularly from the private sector in order to make
the necessary impact.

Government is trying its best to ensure that all road users respect the law
but we have further observed the importance of constantly reminding our people
about their roles and responsibilities when they use our roads.

We have increased the number of provincial traffic officers to 383, who are
working together with other law enforcement agencies in maintaining law and
order in our road network.

An additional 50 bursary holders are currently undergoing training at the
Port Elizabeth Traffic College, which will be completed by the end of June
2007.

More bursaries will be allocated to another 50 trainee traffic officers due
to commence training in July 2007.

The Department of Roads and Transport has increased the number of speed
measuring devices from 48 to 54. We intend to buy a further 24 speed measuring
devices.

In addition to these, we have purchased 12 breath alcohol testers worth R960
000 00. An additional three K78 trailers equipped with road block resources
brought this number up to twelve at R647 000.

Another eight of these equipped trailers will be purchased in the new year.
Six trailers of portable vehicle weighing screeners and six pro-laser speed
checking devices have been ordered.

These resources will enhance our capacity when we run our Arrive Alive
campaign, which is a continuous and tactical programme designed to achieve
effective practical co-operation between the three spheres of government in all
ongoing road traffic and road safety management.

This year, the Arrive Alive plan will endeavour to provide a seamless,
national enforcement plan that responds to the demands of prevailing
circumstances in an effective way.

The focal areas will be:

* driver fitness with emphasis on their documentation
* fatigue and alcohol abuse
* moving violations including illegal use of cell phones while driving
* passenger and freight transport
* vehicle fitness and registration plate enforcement
* pedestrian safety.

There will also be media campaigns with more emphasis on the use of seat
belts, especially rear belts.

The Department will purchase a booze bus to prosecute drunken drivers.

We will continue to work together with our neighbouring provinces such as
KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape to ensure that no
unroadworthy vehicles would be coming to the Eastern Cape.

This approach seeks to ensure that we concentrate all our energies through
effective management in day to day enforcement and quality control, linked to
innovative efforts for effective and efficient service delivery.

All those who have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol will
be reported to the asset forfeiture unit of the National Prosecuting Authority
(NPA) for consideration of their vehicles to be forfeited to the State.

This is in line with the ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal in
Bloemfontein on 9 November 2006.

We would like to encourage motorists, especially public transport operators
to assist our Arrive Alive initiative through:

* constantly checking the conditions of their vehicles before taking long
trips
* avoiding to travel during awkward times
* ensuring that long distance trips have at least two drivers to avoid
fatigue.

Commuters should inform our law enforcement agencies of any problems they
encounter on our roads through calling the provincial information centre toll
free number 0800 644 644.

This year, we will embark on a road safety project, which entails erecting a
minimum of 150 signs with specific road safety messages along the R61 from Port
St Johns to Port Edward.

This will be a pilot route and we intend to roll out the programme to all
provincial routes where accidents are occurring.

In order to build road safety capacity and improve service delivery, we will
engage youth and offer a learnership programme for 37 students that will be
recruited in all six districts within the province.

As a way of expanding our maths and science project, we will pilot a learner
driver education project for grade 12 learners so that when they leave school
they already possess the required basic skills to be competent drivers with
proper attitudes for driving on a public road.

In conclusion, I am confident that when we work together we can make the
necessary difference and bring a significant reduction in the number of
fatalities and serious injuries suffered by our people in our province.

Let us all arrive alive!

Thank you!

Issued by; Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
24 April 2007