March for safety marks Easter Holiday anti-road carnage drive

A unique March for Safety was staged through the streets of Durban on 4 April to launch the KZN Transport Department's symbolic road safety awareness initiative geared towards the Easter Holiday period which is once again expected to keep KwaZulu-Natal roads abuzz with activity.

Traffic came to a standstill in eThekwini when the ten kilometre-long march attracted thousands of people including departmental officials and community road safety activists in what became a historic march against carnage on the province's roads. The walk started from Westridge Primary School in Mayville to Curries Fountain via Warwick Avenue where a symbolic wreath-laying ceremony was held for the ten victims who died there in a road crash earlier this year.

KZN Transport, Community Safety & Liaison MEC Mr. B.H. Cele, his Departmental head, Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa , eThekwini deputy mayor Logie Naidoo, Umgungundlovu district mayor Bongi Sithole-Mlaba, other dignitaries, government officials, members of the taxi council and various stakeholders were present.

Addressing the marchers, Mbanjwa said: "Once more my Department is intensifying safety plans as we expect the usual increase in the number of vehicles during the Easter Holiday in the province. So we urge you to be responsible road users."

Mbanjwa explained: "We are also intensifying Operation Juggernaut, which aims to remove un-roadworthy trucks from the road. This operation will be complemented by Operation Thath' Iskorokoro and Operation Khipha S'khotheni, which is aimed at un-roadworthy public transport and freight vehicles. We also have Operation Thatha which will target pedestrians who walk on the freeways because it is illegal to do so."

He added: "Over and above, we also have Operation Emisa, which is a national campaign aimed at reducing the number of road accidents and crashes on the roads in South Africa as a whole."

MEC Cele said there would be no mercy for traffic offenders, stressing that those who defy road safety rules will face the full might of the law.

"We are expecting thousands of visitors in the province and that means traffic volumes will grow and that is why our traffic law enforcement agencies at local and provincial levels will work closely to ensure that our 100% compliance policy is strictly enforced," he said.

During the Easter Holiday period, the Department is also providing free vehicle road-worthiness checks at testing centres around the province. Motorists have also been encouraged to drive with their headlights on dip during the day. This helps to promote visibility on the road in order to pre-empt potential crashes. Traffic police will support the lights on campaign by patrolling with their blue lights on during adverse weather conditions and at night.

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