Portfolio Committee on Transport intends reviewing Road Safety Programmes
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, says it is time for the Committee to undertake a review of all existing road safety programmes with a view to make recommendations where there are gaps.
“It appears that the Arrive Alive campaign is not sufficient and other programmes are needed to supplement what is there. The number of South Africans who have lost their lives on the roads in the period from 1 December to 11 January is alarming,” Ms Magadzi said.
“This is unacceptable by any means. The loss of lives that could have been saved is unacceptable,” she said.
The Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters, revealed today that 1 755 lives were lost this holiday season, a significant increase from the 1 535 in 2014.
“Stricter regulation and policing of long-distance public transport needs to be applied. The country cannot prepare for deaths and accept this as normal during end-of-year and Easter holidays each year,” Ms Magadzi said.
“Incidents involving minibus taxis are increasingly leading to fatalities. The public should also play their part and change their attitudes by improving on such things as jay-walking, drunk driving and speeding,” she said.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
