2003/2004 SUMMER HOLIDAY PLANS

9 December 2003

Getting tougher, stronger and making sure passengers, drivers and pedestrians reach their destinations safely is what is included in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and MEC for Transport Sbu Ndebele’s summer road safety campaign.

The province’s zero tolerance approach to traffic offenders and offences moves to another plateau with roadside courts; more traffic officials policing; and an aggressive approach to stopping traffic offences before a disaster accident, such as checking vehicle roadworthiness, round the clock roadblocks, and keeping behind bars those who drink and drive.

Its an all inclusive plan with the SAPS, traffic officials, SANDF and paramedics all working together with one aim: Making the roads safe.

In addition, a helicopter will be used as an extra measure to make sure that traffic runs smoothly. All our officers have been placed on additional overtime duties and leave has been curtailed to maximise the number of officers on the roads. From our most juniors to most senior officer, we will work every day, including Christmas and New Years Day.

Roadside Courts will be operational on the N3 at Bergville and Cato Ridge to ensure that instant justice is meted out to traffic offenders. And already since its opening three days ago on Friday, the fruits of its hard work have kicked off, with hefty fines, and suspended sentences meted out.

Howick and Kokstad are keen to set up roadside courts in their areas. They are busy negotiating with the Department of Justice.

In terms of alcohol awareness, we have two programmes aimed at encouraging "party goers" to nominate a sober person to drive and this sober person becomes the designated driver (Designated Driver Campaign). The hospitality industry will sponsor this sober driver with free soft drinks whilst his /her friends partake of alcoholic beverages. The second programme is called Omela Ngasekhaya (Get Thirsty Near Home) and takes places at taverns in townships where people are encouraged to partake of alcohol at taverns, which are closer to their homes.

Static as well as roving roadblocks targeting drunk drivers and vehicle roadworthiness as well as speed-timing exercises will be conducted at high accident frequency locations all around the province.

Our Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU), the only such unit in the country, has just employed forty (40) additional officers who commenced duty on December 1. This unit will be performing goal-directed enforcement aimed specifically at buses, taxis and trucks.

Our road safety education officials will also target taxi ranks to communicate our road safety messages. In this regard we have joined forces with the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Council (KWANATACO) and have trained taxi rank managers to carry out a pre trip inspection before a taxi embarks on a long trip and to encourage all taxi drivers and owners to obey the rules of the road.

The Day Time Running Lights Campaign has also been introduced where drivers are encouraged to drive with their headlamps on during the day as this will increase visibility for both vehicles and pedestrians.

The Blue Lights Campaign will see our traffic officers patrol our roads with their blue lights flashing all the time during periods when traffic volumes are high.

Road construction will be stopped during peak times. Rest stops will be set up at strategic locations in order to provide motorists with a safe area to take a break and relax. We urge all drivers to take a break at least every two hours or 200 kilometres.

We have also introduced a special Road Safety Web page, which can be accessed at www.kzntransport.gov.za/home.htm which provides road safety tips as well as reports on hazardous locations to assist drivers to plan their trips before embarking on long journeys.

KwaZulu Natal is set to boast a record high tourism influx this year, including international and domestic holidaymakers. Also, migrant workers travel home especially to KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape to spend the holidays with their families. We want to make sure our workers get to their families safely and will be encouraging public safety awareness on the shop floor.

The Community Road Safety Council Members will "light candles" in memory of all those who have passed on. This will be done at awareness day events and at taxi ranks.

Minister Ndebele will visit various areas where high-density accidents occur, together with meeting with workers at taxi ranks and large passenger service areas appealing for safety and spreading the campaign.

The provincial department’s success from Project Victoria, Siyabakhumbula and Asiphephe, which culminated in the nationwide Arrive Alive programme, has set the pace for eradicating the road carnage on our roads.

Its everyone’s business to make our roads safe and with the community road safety councils established throughout the province comprising amakhosi, religious leaders, the farming community and other stakeholders, Minister Ndebele is confident that the public will join him in his quest for safety.

Road users can play their part by reporting report bad drivers to our Mpimpa hotline on 086 221 1010.

For more information, contact Logan Maistry on 0836444050

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