With traffic volumes expected to increase ahead of the Christmas and New Year long weekends, government has called on all road users, drivers and pedestrians to take the necessary action to keep safe and ensure a reduction in the number of crashes on the roads.
“Government alone cannot change this reality. We can only save lives if road users change their behaviour, because it is the behaviour of people that led to most of the 11 883 deaths on our roads last year,” Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said during the launch of the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign, earlier this month.
Even though the number of road fatalities decreased by 4,4% from 2022 to 2023, the Minister said one death is one too many.
“We are working alongside the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), as well as provincial and municipal departments responsible for transport and road safety, amongst others, to ensure that government does its utmost to make this a safer festive season.
“All traffic officers, police officers and law enforcement authorities must enforce the law without fear or favour. Road users must know that they will face the consequences for breaking the law. If fathers, mothers and innocent children are going to die or be injured because of the actions of irresponsible individuals, then those individuals must face the consequences,” the Minister said.
As part of the plan to reduce road crashes and fatalities, the Department of Transport has identified 20 priority routes where most crashes occur.
These include:
- Limpopo – R71 Mankweng, R37 Mecklenburg and the N1 Naboomspruit.
- Mpumalanga – R573 KwaMhlanga, N4 Vosman and N4 Nelspruit.
- Gauteng – R21 Kempton Park.
- North West – N12 Potchefstroom and N12 Klerksdorp.
- KwaZulu-Natal – N2 Pongola and N2 Umkomaas.
- Eastern Cape – R61 Mzamba, N2 Libode, N2 Idutywa, R61.
- Umthatha, N2 Mount Ayliff, R61 Libode and N2 Umthatha.
- Western Cape – N2 Khayelitsha.
“Stringent monitoring has been put in place to ensure the implementation of our law enforcement plan on these routes and others.
“The best research available tells us that most crashes occur during weekends, late at night and in the early hours of the morning. Accordingly, 24/7 traffic policing will be conducted on these routes over the festive season,” the Minister said.
Law enforcement will focus on ensuring that drivers stick to the speed limits. Traffic officers will also inspect vehicles and lock up those caught in the act of drunk driving.
Law enforcement will also be focused on border posts that experience a large increase in traffic during this time of year.
“Alongside our patrolling interventions, we have also undertaken a campaign of focusing on targeted messaging on radio and social media during this period.
“The Department [of Transport] and the RTMC have partnered with civil society groups and faith-based organisations, who will be rolling out education and awareness campaigns in their communities to ensure that all road users are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
“We can only lower the number of deaths during this festive season and make our roads safer through targeted interventions, which include all sectors of our society and employ all the tools available to us,” the Minister said. - SAnews.gov.za
