Date: 24/04/2007

Source: Eastern Caper Provincial Government

Title: Mhlahlo: Launch of Global Road Safety Week

Address by honourable Thobile Mhlahlo, Eastern Cape MEC for Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport at the launch of the Global Road Safety Week, Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane

Today we join millions from all over the world in spreading the message of promotion of safety on our roads.

Road accidents continue to frustrate development as they usually take away our loved ones, who are mostly active participants in the economy.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), each year road crashes kill nearly 1,2 million people and injure or disable 20 to 50 million more across the world.

As a developing country, South Africa enjoys a period of high economic growth rate which provides space for the previously marginalised individuals particularly the youth to participate actively in the economy.

There are growing numbers of young people, who have entered the job market and have bought new cars. This means our road network is dominated by inexperienced drivers who pose a huge risk to other road users.

The recently released report of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) shows that our country's motor industry experienced a year on year growth of 22% in 2004, 28% in 2005 and 17% in 2006.

Even the Reserve Bank's announcements of higher interest rates could not prevent the growth in the number of people, who are buying cars.

This year, there is an expected increase in car sales by between 4% and 7%.

Over the past three years, cars have become more affordable and some manufacturers have reduced their prices some by 15%.

Secondly, the emergence of a strong black middle class market that has purchased between 25% and 40% of the motor vehicles in South Africa has become a significant factor.

The continuous increase on the number of vehicles that are being registered in the Eastern Cape and the demand for number confirm this research.

The demand for personalised and specific number plates in this province is increasing beyond expectations resulting in revenue collected exceeding the target of R293 000 as at the end of December 2006 by R1,428 million.

This trend forces government to invest more on public transport in an effort to prevent congestion on our roads and to further increase road traffic safety awareness with a particular focus on the new drivers.

We have already started with the recapitalisation of old taxis in South Africa and government is investing R7,7 billion in this project.

In the Eastern Cape, already 828 taxis have been submitted at the main scrapping site in Zwelitsha and 730 taxi operators have received their R50 000 scrapping allowance, which amounts to more than R36 million that has been paid.

We are further making visible and decisive interventions in improving the conditions of buses in the province.

We are presently assisting the small bus operators in the former Transkei region with the establishment of Africa's best 350, a single legal entity established by the bus operators themselves.

The first new 55 buses will arrive on 1 July 2007 and will be distributed to the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts. This means 21 more routes will be opened, which have not been operated in the recent past. It will further enhance the access of the communities to job opportunities, health and education centres and other trip generators by more than 25% compared to what it is today. This phase will demand a subsidy of R30 million.

The second phase will take off in April 2008 with 56 buses that will be distributed to the Amathole and Chris Hani districts. The last phase of distribution of another 55 buses is expected in April 2009 with more buses for the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts.

When all three phases of 166 routes are implemented, the subsidy would amount to approximately R73 million per annum.

The Department has allocated R5 million for the new financial year to continue with the recapitalisation of the bus fleet of Mayibuye Transport Corporation.

This year we will continue with a massive roll out of our Shova Lula Bicycle Project and 5 339 bicycles have been purchased, of which 800 will be distributed in the Amathole District. These bicycles will benefit learners who reside in rural areas and travel long distances to reach schools.

As we continue to initiate various programmes that seek to facilitate the movement of people and goods, we are further charged with a responsibility to increase road safety awareness.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated April 23-29, 2007 as Global Road Safety Week.

This resolution invites the United Nations (UN) member states to organise and host public awareness activities to underscore the preventable nature of road traffic crashes and to educate the public on the impact that accidents have on global socio-economic conditions.

All countries in the world have realised the importance of investing on road safety initiatives through deliberate and determined efforts of many sectors of society, both governmental and non-governmental.

This year the focus is on young road users including young drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists who make up a high proportion of those suffering death, injury and disability on the roads.

During this week a large number of international, national and local road safety events will be hosted all over the world. Many partners will participate in the organisation and implementation including UN, government agencies as well as civil society and the private sector.

I would like to commend the contribution of Clear Vision Optometrists, which is our partner in this programme.

We need more partners particularly from the private sector in order to make the necessary impact.

Government is trying its best to ensure that all road users respect the law but we have further observed the importance of constantly reminding our people about their roles and responsibilities when they use our roads.

We have increased the number of provincial traffic officers to 383, who are working together with other law enforcement agencies in maintaining law and order in our road network.

An additional 50 bursary holders are currently undergoing training at the Port Elizabeth Traffic College, which will be completed by the end of June 2007.

More bursaries will be allocated to another 50 trainee traffic officers due to commence training in July 2007.

The Department of Roads and Transport has increased the number of speed measuring devices from 48 to 54. We intend to buy a further 24 speed measuring devices.

In addition to these, we have purchased 12 breath alcohol testers worth R960 000 00. An additional three K78 trailers equipped with road block resources brought this number up to twelve at R647 000.

Another eight of these equipped trailers will be purchased in the new year. Six trailers of portable vehicle weighing screeners and six pro-laser speed checking devices have been ordered.

These resources will enhance our capacity when we run our Arrive Alive campaign, which is a continuous and tactical programme designed to achieve effective practical co-operation between the three spheres of government in all ongoing road traffic and road safety management.

This year, the Arrive Alive plan will endeavour to provide a seamless, national enforcement plan that responds to the demands of prevailing circumstances in an effective way.

The focal areas will be:

* driver fitness with emphasis on their documentation
* fatigue and alcohol abuse
* moving violations including illegal use of cell phones while driving
* passenger and freight transport
* vehicle fitness and registration plate enforcement
* pedestrian safety.

There will also be media campaigns with more emphasis on the use of seat belts, especially rear belts.

The Department will purchase a booze bus to prosecute drunken drivers.

We will continue to work together with our neighbouring provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape to ensure that no unroadworthy vehicles would be coming to the Eastern Cape.

This approach seeks to ensure that we concentrate all our energies through effective management in day to day enforcement and quality control, linked to innovative efforts for effective and efficient service delivery.

All those who have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol will be reported to the asset forfeiture unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for consideration of their vehicles to be forfeited to the State.

This is in line with the ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on 9 November 2006.

We would like to encourage motorists, especially public transport operators to assist our Arrive Alive initiative through:

* constantly checking the conditions of their vehicles before taking long trips
* avoiding to travel during awkward times
* ensuring that long distance trips have at least two drivers to avoid fatigue.

Commuters should inform our law enforcement agencies of any problems they encounter on our roads through calling the provincial information centre toll free number 0800 644 644.

This year, we will embark on a road safety project, which entails erecting a minimum of 150 signs with specific road safety messages along the R61 from Port St Johns to Port Edward.

This will be a pilot route and we intend to roll out the programme to all provincial routes where accidents are occurring.

In order to build road safety capacity and improve service delivery, we will engage youth and offer a learnership programme for 37 students that will be recruited in all six districts within the province.

As a way of expanding our maths and science project, we will pilot a learner driver education project for grade 12 learners so that when they leave school they already possess the required basic skills to be competent drivers with proper attitudes for driving on a public road.

In conclusion, I am confident that when we work together we can make the necessary difference and bring a significant reduction in the number of fatalities and serious injuries suffered by our people in our province.

Let us all arrive alive!

Thank you!

Issued by; Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
24 April 2007