SPEECH (NOTES) BY KWAZULU-NATAL MEC FOR TRANSPORT, COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LIAISON MR. BHEKI CELE AT THE UNVEILING OF THE EASTER HOLIDAY ROAD SAFETY PLAN AT THE UMVOTI TOLL PLAZA ON TUESDAY, 15 MARCH 2005

• For some time now, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has focused its attention on road safety 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

• However, stepping up its campaign around particular times of the year when traffic volumes are at their peak is also important.

• The Easter holiday period is one such time when much of our attention turns towards the increased traffic volumes.

• Road Safety is a key priority of our government.

• In bald statistical terms, our country cannot afford to continue to lose over 34 lives and experience 160 serious injuries every day. Not only is the pain and suffering immeasurable for victims and their families, but the cost to the economy is around R35 billion per annum.

• Every year, we witness tragedies of appalling horror. We all know about it. We all know that we need a greater sense of urgency as NOBODY benefits from this situation.

• But we also know that the onus for reducing the carnage on our roads must rest with the road users themselves. This is REAL crime, and communities and individuals must take responsibility for their behaviour and that of their families and friends to bring down the number of deaths on the road.

• In our attempt to provide a safer road environment during the forthcoming Easter Holidays, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport together with all relevant stakeholders will implement a comprehensive road safety plan.

• During Easter, thousands of people are expected to visit our province and traffic volumes will increase along all national and major provincial routes.

• All law enforcement agencies will be working in a coordinated manner to ensure that our "100 % compliance" policy is strictly enforced.

• You can be rest assured that no mercy will be shown to any traffic offender. You have been warned: if you do not comply with the law, you will face the full might of the law.

• The implementation of our Easter road safety plan will commence on18^th March and will end on 4^th April. During this period vacation leave for all our law enforcement officers has been curtailed, to ensure maximum visibility. Our enforcement officers have been given strict instruction to ensure that all those who do not comply with the law, are dealt with in an appropriate manner.

In summary, our Easter road safety plan comprises of the following key elements:

For the first time this year, we will hold joint inter-provincial law enforcement operations. These operations will be set up at various strategic locations, including the N3 at Van Reenen's Pass together with the Free State, and on the N2 at Bizana together with the Eastern Cape.

To ensure a safer KwaZulu-Natal, multi-disciplinary, multi-jurisdictional roadblocks will be set up throughout the province. These multi-disciplinary road blocks will be a regular feature on our roads, with daily roadblocks scheduled to target specific areas at specific times.

The purpose of these major roadblocks is to clearly demonstrate that all law enforcement agencies and security services will not tolerate any form of reckless, irresponsible, dangerous and unlawful behaviour.

These operations will also demonstrate our commitment to jointly tackle un-roadworthy, unlicensed and overloaded vehicles, as well as unlicensed drivers.

Sting operations will be carried out with roving road blocks within targeted areas, and static road blocks will be more prominent at toll plazas, and entrances and exits to city centres and residential areas.

Visible policing will be highlighted during patrols by all our enforcement agencies, by switching on their Blue Lights to reinforce police presence. In this regard, Tolcon vehicles will also assist us, and will operate on the N3 from Cedara in KZN to Heidelberg in Gauteng, with their Amber Lights flashing.

Our Public Transport Enforcement Unit (Operation Shanela) will be deployed to problematic areas, affected by specific public transport problems and associated road crashes.

Specialized patrols will be conducted along routes used by public transport vehicles, to transport migrant workers home from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. All public transport vehicles, including buses and taxis will be stopped and checked. Both the driver and the vehicle will under-go a fitness test. 

Alcohol abuse by drivers usually increase this time of the year, and as a counter measure all drivers stopped will be screened for alcohol, thereby minimizing their chances of going undetected.

Our specialized Booze Buses will be used at every opportunity. The Booze Buses will also be used as part of our high visibility policing strategy to create awareness, and to act as a deterrent to would be offenders.

As alcohol is a major contributory factor to road crashes, every effort will be made to discourage motorists from driving after drinking, and for this reason the target audience for this project will be people partying at hotels, restaurants, taverns and clubs.

Once more I would like to repeat: if you planning on drinking, Omela eKhaya. Please stay at home and drink at your own leisure, not on our roads.

Speed Operations

Special speed enforcement operations will be carried out in an effort to arrest chronic homicidal speedsters who travel at high speeds hoping to avoid detection, especially at places such as Estcourt, Ladysmith and Park Rynie.

Speed camera operations at fixed sites will be operational 24 hours. Other speed operations will be effected in the early hours of the morning, when drivers think that they will not get caught. A special focus on speed will also be carried out within municipal areas where pedestrian fatalities are high.

The following roadside courts will be fully operational during the Easter Holidays:

• N3 Cato Ridge

• N3 Bergville

• N2 Umdhloti

• N2 Park Rynie

These roadside courts will also be used as rest stops to encourage motorists to stop and rest after every two hours, or 200 kilometres.

Pedestrians

As part of our road safety plan, a specific programme to deal with the problem of pedestrians will be implemented. We will not tolerate any unlawful pedestrian activity such as trading or walking on freeways. Any pedestrian found on any freeway will be arrested, taken to the nearest police station and dealt with accordingly.

Our Mpimpa Call Centre will be fully operational 24 hours a day over the holiday period, to ensure that all emergencies reported are immediately communicated to the relevant emergency services for response.

• In closing, I would like to urge all road users to respect one another; pedestrians must give the necessary respect to motorists, and vice-versa.

• Each and every death on our roads is one too many, and that each and every death or serious injury is a tragedy for the individuals, the families and communities, and for the nation.

• We must continue to strive to increase respect for human life, and treat road carnage with the seriousness it deserves.

I thank you.

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