MEDIA ALERT

INTELLIGENT ROAD STUDS ROAD SAFETY PROGRAMME

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Safety and Security Mr. Bheki Cele will officially launch the second phase of the Intelligent Road Studs Road Safety Programme on Thursday, 8 July 2004 commencing at 16h00 at the Hilton Hotel, Durban.

In order to minimize the number of road accidents and to prevent loss of life in the Ulundi/Melmoth area, a company called Highway Technologies were contracted to install Intelligent Road Studs (IRS) during 2003. The studs were installed over a 34-kilometre stretch of road. This was phase one of the IRS project. Prior to the installation of the IRS the cost of accidents on this section of road was calculated in excess of R40 million per annum. This included 27 fatalities in just seven months. Since the installation of the IRS there have only been two fatal accidents on the same stretch of road. Phase two is the completion of the installation of the studs from Melmoth to Eshowe.

These road studs extend driver night time visibility by up to ten times compared with conventional road studs. Some of the benefits when compared to the conventional "cats eyes" include:

• Improved road delineation, particularly effective in poor weather conditions.
• Increased driver visibility and awareness to hazards such as sharp bends, stationery vehicles or lane changes.
• Clear reference points at ground level especially on sharp bends and winding roads.
• Extremely increased and improved driver reaction times due to the distance of visibility being ten times that of normal road markings and passive road studs.
• Avoidance of sudden braking and last minute vehicle manoeuvres.
• Reduces use of headlight main beam, as no vehicle lights are required for visibility of intelligent road studs.
• Extremely cost effective alternative to expensive overhead street lighting, as initial installation cost are much lower, and no electricity or other power supply is required.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has pleasure in inviting you to attend the presentation and viewing of phase two of the intelligent road studs programme, which will be rolled out to other high road accident locations within the province. The presentation will also cover the proposed investment on the installation of animal/wildlife repellent reflective studs. A physical viewing of the effectiveness of the studs will take place after the presentation and transport will be provided from the Hilton Hotel to the site in Eshowe and back. The evening’s activities will be rounded off with dinner at about 19h30 at the Hilton Hotel.

This event will take place on the eve of the seminar being hosted by the South African Roads Federation (KZN) on road issues in KwaZulu-Natal and members of the Federation will attend this presentation as well.

All media are invited to attend. Please note picture opportunities. In order to facilitate catering, transport and other logistical arrangements, all media are please requested to confirm attendance by no later than 10h00 on Wednesday, 7^th July 2004.

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