MEDIA STATEMENT

DON’T FOOL YOURSELF, SPEED KILLS

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Safety and Security Mr. Bheki Cele has warned motorists who think that effective traffic law enforcement in KZN only takes place during peak holiday periods to think again.

Cele was responding to three motorists who were caught travelling at maniacal speeds on the N2 near Sezela on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast during the past week-end. They all appeared in the Scottburgh Magistrates Court on Monday and were find R20 000, R13 000 and R12 000 respectively.

Mr WF Du Plessis (38 years) from Edenvale who was driving an Alfa Romeo was caught traveling at 210 kilometres per hour and was fined R20 000.

Mr SS Numbula (25 years) from Umtata who was driving a Mercedes Benz was fined R13 000 for traveling at a speed of 183 kilometres per hour.

Mr A Dawood (41 years) from Merebank driving a Mercedes Benz was driving at 192 kilometres per hour and was fined R18 000.

"Don’t fool yourself, speed kills. These messages speak out loud and clear. But do they actually hit home any more, or have they become clichés that the motoring public largely ignores? Road safety practitioners emphasize the need for speed reduction as a primary factor in cutting fatalities and serious injuries. Unfortunately, road users often contest these enforcement efforts," Cele said.

"The fact that traffic officers are referred to as "speed cops" is an indication of the perception by drivers that speed offences are targeted because they are an easy source of revenue. What is important is that communities need to understand that the death rate on South Africa’s roads is unacceptable. The pain, suffering and financial costs of crashes can be substantially reduced by a commitment to change behaviour and attitude," said Cele.

"So lift your right foot slightly, and get into the habit of driving more courteously, more slowly and more carefully. You may save your own life. You may save the life of a loved one. You may save the life of somebody else by avoiding a crash altogether. And you will definitely save some precious money to counteract the spiralling fuel costs," Cele said.

Meanwhile, a road crash involving a minibus taxi occurred at about 12h30 today on the N2 near the Pavillion Shopping Complex in Durban. It is alleged that the driver of the taxi lost control of his vehicle, apparently due to speed and the vehicle rammed into a near-by informal settlement. Five occupants from the vehicle, including the driver were killed instantly. 14 others were injured and were admitted to the Addington Hospital in Durban. Traffic officials and emergency services are still busy on the scene.

MEC Cele has ordered a full investigation into this crash and has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

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