Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government

Title: Cele: Easter Holiday launch

Speech by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele at the Easter Holiday launch

In our endeavour to provide a safe environment which will be conducive to the community and our visitors during the Easter Holidays, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport together with all relevant stakeholders will be intensifying our road safety initiatives to ensure a safe and trouble free utilisation of all public facilities and roads within our provincial road network.

All law enforcement agencies will be working in unison to ensure our 100 percent Compliance Policy against traffic offenders in an effort to curb the number of road crashes and to create maximum impact in terms of law enforcement.

Road crashes of appalling horror occur almost daily, and we all know that we need a greater sense of responsibility as nobody benefits from this situation.

Without the necessary visibility on the roads, there is a rise in carnage on the roads, and it is for these reasons that we will be embarking on deploying patrol vehicles along busy routes and hazardous locations.

Vacation leave for Traffic officers have been restricted to emergencies only. The entire enforcement structures in the province comprising of all authorities will be out in full force to ensure that our roads remain safe this Easter Holiday.

You can rest assured that no mercy will be shown to traffic offenders. Those who do not comply and obey the rules of the road will certainly pay the price.

Traffic offences to be targeted will be pedestrians, speed, alcohol abuse, moving violations and vehicle fitness. This however, does not mean that other violations such as illegal and unsafe overtaking; ignoring stop signs and other offences will be ignored. All authorities will be making a concerted effort on pedestrian safety.

Pedestrians constitute the single biggest factor to road accidents in this country. Many people know the disgust of deadly accidents that occur on roads. Almost 40 percent of fatalities of the total percentage that occur on roads are pedestrian related incidents. Many pedestrians involved in accidents are between the ages of 20 and 40 years and these are individuals that can make a positive contribution to the South African economy.

Adult pedestrians are a difficult target group to affect behavioural change, because they have reached a stage where they have set habits and behavioural patterns. It is for this reason that we have introduced an education programme of adult pedestrians in KwaZulu-Natal called "Walk Alert KwaZulu-Natal."

The project will focus solely on facilitating attitudes and behavioural change among pedestrians. The education programme will highlight.

* speed and distance determination of approaching vehicles
* alcohol and walking
* physical limitations of adults (sight, muscular co-ordination and so on)
* use of appropriate infrastructure
* general road safety education.

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

* enforcement operations
* road blocks.

RTI Pietermaritzburg, Park Rynie, Ladysmith and Empangeni will be offering free roadworthy inspections to motorists ahead of them travelling over long distances during the Easter holiday period. These dates will be communicated to the public by the respective regions. Multi-disciplinary road blocks will be a regular feature on our roads ahead of the long weekend.

Road blocks will also be carried out along routes considered high risk in terms of road crashes and in and around city centres. Joint operations involving all enforcement authorities have already been incorporated into operational plans to create maximum impact in terms of law enforcement. Motorists travelling in the early hours of the morning can expect to be stopped at these road blocks. Intensive law enforcement will be carried out in support of our 100 percent compliance of traffic laws.

Major enforcement operations will start on 30 March 2007 and will continue until 1 May 2007. Daily road blocks have been scheduled targeting specific areas at specific times. Road blocks will also be used to create road safety awareness in communities in support of the provinces overall Road Safety Plan. Sting operations will be carried out with roving road blocks within targeted areas.

Static road blocks will be more prominent ahead of the holiday period at Toll Plazas and entrances to city centres and residential areas. Road blocks will also be conducted at times when most road crashes occur, after 20h00 and over weekends.

Visible policing

Visible policing will be highlighted during patrols by all enforcement agencies, by switching on their Blue lights to reinforce police presence. Tolkon vehicles which operate on the N3 from Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal to Heidelberg in Gauteng and will also patrol with their amber flashing lights.

Tolkon responds to emergencies on the N3 and offers roadside assistance. Most authorities will operate on a 24 hour basis with a main focus on rapid response to road crashes and other emergencies including around the clock traffic policing. Traffic offences relative to the cause of road accidents will be a priority at hazardous locations.

Special patrols will be carried out along routes used by public transport to transport migrant workers home in parts of Northern KwaZulu�Natal and the Eastern Cape. Buses and taxis will be stopped and both the driver and the vehicle will be subjected to a fitness test. Vehicles will be checked for the correct certification. These operations will be carried out by the Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU). Public Transport Enforcement Unit will also concentrate on passenger overloading.

The Traffic Training College will be patrolling major inland routes with a special focus on vehicle fitness. They will also provide assistance in accident response and other emergencies. Visible policing has proven to be a major deterrent for moving violations and every effort will be made by enforcement officials to be visible on routes carrying high volumes of traffic.

Alcohol operations

Alcohol abuse by drivers is usually associated with this time of the year and as a counter measure all drivers stopped will be screened for alcohol thereby limiting their chances of going undetected. The booze bus will be used at every opportunity especially at road blocks and randomly during roadside checks. Alcohol is a major contributor of road crashes and every effort will be made to discourage motorists from driving after drinking.

Alcohol road blocks will be conducted from 30 March 2007 and will conclude on 1 May 2007. Checks will be carried out at city centres, outside night clubs and on routes leading to residential areas. In addition motorists can expect to be screened for alcohol at toll plazas and along routes leading to holiday destinations. The booze bus will also be used as part of the high visibility policing strategy creating awareness and acting as a deterrent for would be drunken drivers. Many hours have been dedicated to alcohol operations.

Speed operations

Special speed operations will be carried out in an effort to arrest chronic homicidal speedsters who travel at high speeds and hope to avoid detection on the N2 and N3 especially at Estcourt, Ladysmith and Park Rynie, where excessive speeds were recorded.

Speed camera operations at fixed sites will be operational 24 hours. These fixed sites are located on the N2, N11 and N3 at Van Reenen, Town Hill, Lion Park, Pinetown, Queensburgh and Winkelspruit, which are regarded as hazardous locations. Other speed operations will be effected in the early hours of the morning when opportunity exists for drivers to speed when there are reduced traffic volumes.

Routine speed checks will also be staged at places on provincial roads and within municipal areas. A special focus on speed will be carried out within municipal areas where pedestrian fatalities are high.

Routine enforcement

Routine law enforcement will be carried out against unlicensed drivers, un-roadworthy vehicles, driver fitness and overloading of passengers, etc as part of the strategic provincial operational plan which will also be carried out at road blocks, during routine patrols and at roadside checks.

Overloading control and the movement of holiday traffic will be monitored. Moving violations will also be policed during routine patrols including the non-wearing of seatbelts. On days when there is a large influx of people to beaches and dams, routine enforcement will be carried out on these routes especially during late afternoon and early evening.

Mpimpa Call Centre

The Mpimpa Call Centre will be fully operational 24 hours a day over the holiday period. Staff have been briefed on what to expect over the holiday period. The Mpimpa Call Centre staff are managed by supervisors who will be on standby to attend to any emergency.

The Mpimpa Deputy Manager will also be on stand-by to assist in the event of an emergency or to attend to any problems. Emergencies reported to the Call Centre will immediately be communicated to the relevant emergency service for speedy response.

Lastly, I would like to urge all road users to adhere to the key road safety guidelines. These guides will guide not only motorist and pedestrians, but will protect your safety through out the Easter holiday season and beyond:

* do not drink and drive
* do not speed
* do not overload
* insist on driver and vehicle fitness
* wear your seatbelt
* promote pedestrian safety.

Remember, there is only a millisecond between you and a family tragedy that can never be reversed. Arrive alive, Asiphephe KwaZulu-Natal.

I thank you

Enquiries:
Nonkululeko Mbatha
Cell: 083 645 6252

Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
3 April 2007