9 April 2007
Pretoria: Many holidaymakers trek back to work. Traffic authorities increase
operations to deal with heavy traffic on South Africa's main roads. Motorists
should expect delays in the vicinity of tollgates and multi-disciplinary
roadblocks. The focus of the intensified traffic operations will be on:
un-roadworthy vehicles (especially taxis and buses; if seriously defective will
be impounded on the spot). No stone will be left unturned in dealing with
speedsters, as traffic authorities tighten the net on lawlessness on our
roads.
Before leaving make sure that your vehicle is mechanically sound. Pay
particular attention to brakes, tyres including the spare wheel, windscreens
wipers, steering mechanism and lights. In your trip include sufficient stops.
The Department of Transport's Arrive Alive urges motorists to heed the
following road safety hints, in order to make their journey safe:
Fatigue
All drivers especially young drivers up to 25 years, older drivers over 50
years, taxi, bus and truck drivers, those with medical condition are
potentially likely to be affected by fatigue especially when driving between
00h00 to 05h00 and driving in the early afternoon (post lunch dip).
Safe driving
When motorists drink and drive, it is no accident, but a deliberate tragedy
waiting to happen. Please don't take the wheel when you have had alcohol or any
other drug. Always wear a seatbelt and keep children suitably constrained in
the back seat. Adapt your speed to prevailing conditions. Driving too fast or
too slow can be dangerous since both result in unnecessary passing � by you and
other drivers.
The golden rule is stick to following distance of at least two seconds. This
way you will be able to spot potential hazards in the traffic flow much sooner.
Remember it is patently impossible to maintain proper control while holding a
cellphone in one hand.
Tyres
The National Road Traffic Act requires a tread depth of at least one
millimetre throughout the breadth and around the entire circumference of all
tyres.
Brakes
Water may seep into the brakes and will render them ineffective. On disc
brakes a few jabs on the pedal at low speed will clear the water, but drum
brakes take much longer to dry. Drive slowly and maintain light pressure on the
brake pedal.
Rain
Even a fairly light shower, especially after a prolonged dry period, can
make the road surface extremely slippery as it mingles with the film of dust,
rubber and oil that has been deposited on the roadway.
Striking a puddle at high speed can lead to aquaplaning, which results in
the loss of steering as the tyres actually lose contact with the road. Reduce
speed and increase the following distance. Switch headlights to low beam to
ensure your vehicle is more readily visible to others.
The death toll on South Africa's roads stands at:
* 137 fatalities
* 31 drivers
* 54 passengers
* 52 pedestrians
On average 34 people died daily since the start of the Easter holiday.
Media contact:
Ntau Letebele
Cell: 082 923 9194
Sam Monareng
Cell: 083 326 1521
Ashref Ismail
Cell: 082 826 5883
Issued By: Ministry of Transport
9 April 2007
Source: Ministry of Transport (http://www.dot.gov.za)
