Date: 30/11/2004
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Radebe: Arrive Alive Festive Season Campaign
Remarks by Jeff Radebe, MP Minister of Transport at the Arrive Alive Festive Season Campaign, Wesbank Raceway, Germiston
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is that time of the year when much of our attention turns towards the burning issue of road safety. For some time now the Arrive Alive campaign has focussed its attention on a year-round basis, stepping up its campaign around particular times of the year when traffic movements on our roads are at their peak.
Road Safety is a key priority of the Department of Transport. In bald statistical terms, the 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.
Any reading of the statistics tells us that in the vast majority of instances, road accidents and the fatalities of drivers, passengers and pedestrians or non-motorised users, are the result of sheer carelessness, drivers taking chances or misjudging speed, visibility, or their own skills, not following traffic rules, the use of alcohol and/or not being careful about the effects of medication and drugs, and so on.
The Road to Safety plan has achieved some success, in that the deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled dropped slightly in 2003 for the first time in five years. But although this is an accurate measure as the growth in the economy has led to an increase in road usage, one swallow does not make a summer, and so we cannot rest on our laurels. All provinces, metros and local authorities participate in the Arrive Alive campaign, and today we must acknowledge our gratitude to the host of traffic officials, ambulance and emergency services personnel, the SAPS and countless volunteers who give of their time and skills so generously in the battle against roadhogs and mindless, wreckless drivers. So often, these are the people who deal first-hand with the trauma and horror of accidents.
The past few weeks have provided some additional arrows in our collective quiver to act against those who clearly don't have the interests of other road-users, or indeed themselves, at heart. Hopefully, knowledge of these and their implementation will have a positive affect on driver behaviour.
"In the face of a challenge to the validity of the Drager alcohol testing equipment, we won the court battle and now every local authority, metro and province can use all their expertise and resources to overcome the scourge of drinking and road use, which costs around 6 000 lives each year.
"On 11 November, together with the Asset Forfeiture Unit, we won the right to confiscate the vehicle of a repeat offender. In March he was tested and found to be 3.6 times the legal limit for alcohol. In April he was caught speeding at 189 kph (57.6% over the limit), and four days later he was again caught and tested at 4.6 times the legal limit for alcohol. I must warn that repeat offenders face the risk of having these measures used against them if they violate our sensible and necessary traffic regulations and laws. I am told that the Department has, together with the provinces and local authorities identified several people who fall into this category - they know who they are and so risk having their vehicles confiscated if caught again. Not only will these people lose their vehicles (and if they are paying them off, they will have to continue to make payments), but they will also face the full might of conventional punishment, heavy fines and possible goal sentences or cancellation of their driving licences.
The Department also believes that the sound principles of the 16 days of activism against abuse of women and children should be carried over into the road safety campaign. In this regard, we will be working with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport visiting shebeens and taverns emphasising the importance of family values as well as respect for each other. We are saying 'omela ekhaya' and we reject all forms of violence against women and children.
It is fundamental that we transform our road safety culture as this is a critical element in building a responsible citizenship and rediscovering the simple truths of care and concern. These tasks are not glamorous or headline grabbing, but they are worthy of our total commitment.
In five days, hundreds of thousands of people will begin the long trek to annual holidays, as schools and factories close. My plea to the public at a large is to personally promote road safety, to discuss it around your dinner table or when with friends, and to keep it on the agenda of EVERY road user in our country.
Road Safety is not just an issue during the festive season. As I stated earlier, there are daily deaths and injuries on our roads, and we take advantage of the Festive Season period to promote road safety, as it is topical and has become traditional for a huge media interest at this time of year.
Ladies and gentleman, today is an example of cooperation between government and business, with the hand over of 30 vehicles by Imperial Fleet Services to boost law enforcement on our roads. We are most grateful, at this time of year, to have these vehicles to help us to have a presence on the roads, and to boost the limited resources of law enforcement agencies.
More than 90% of deaths on the roads follow a traffic violation. I would like to appeal to law enforcement officers today to please plan and undertake their law enforcement actions to address offences taking place on our roads in a regular and effective manner. History has shown that it is possible to make a successful contribution to the fight against road accidents. I have received disturbing reports about complaints from traffic officers and others about what seems to be a mismatch in the high expectations we have on the one hand, and the resources they are given on the other to do their job. I have asked both the Arrive Alive team and the provincial authorities to do whatever they can to do whatever they can to ensure that our traffic officials are given every assistance to carry the burden of enforcement during this busy period.
In the meantime, may I extend Government's gratitude to all of you for the sacrifices you commit and for the forbearance and love of your families and those close to you as quite often you will be separated during this time when people and families draw close.
I would also like to thank the media most sincerely for their participation in promoting road safety. Last December the department conducted more than a thousand interviews, and, according to independent sources and the public, this had some effect on road behaviour. We ask for your continued support for this cause.
Lastly, we better warn those who are a law unto themselves that they should obey traffic rules or else they will face the full might of the law. I expect no less than a "no tolerance for offenders" operation over the coming weeks.
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.
Take care, God bless and Arrive Alive!
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
30 November 2004
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
Source: Ministry of Transport
Title: Radebe: Arrive Alive Festive Season Campaign
Remarks by Jeff Radebe, MP Minister of Transport at the Arrive Alive Festive Season Campaign, Wesbank Raceway, Germiston
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is that time of the year when much of our attention turns towards the burning issue of road safety. For some time now the Arrive Alive campaign has focussed its attention on a year-round basis, stepping up its campaign around particular times of the year when traffic movements on our roads are at their peak.
Road Safety is a key priority of the Department of Transport. In bald statistical terms, the 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.
Any reading of the statistics tells us that in the vast majority of instances, road accidents and the fatalities of drivers, passengers and pedestrians or non-motorised users, are the result of sheer carelessness, drivers taking chances or misjudging speed, visibility, or their own skills, not following traffic rules, the use of alcohol and/or not being careful about the effects of medication and drugs, and so on.
The Road to Safety plan has achieved some success, in that the deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled dropped slightly in 2003 for the first time in five years. But although this is an accurate measure as the growth in the economy has led to an increase in road usage, one swallow does not make a summer, and so we cannot rest on our laurels. All provinces, metros and local authorities participate in the Arrive Alive campaign, and today we must acknowledge our gratitude to the host of traffic officials, ambulance and emergency services personnel, the SAPS and countless volunteers who give of their time and skills so generously in the battle against roadhogs and mindless, wreckless drivers. So often, these are the people who deal first-hand with the trauma and horror of accidents.
The past few weeks have provided some additional arrows in our collective quiver to act against those who clearly don't have the interests of other road-users, or indeed themselves, at heart. Hopefully, knowledge of these and their implementation will have a positive affect on driver behaviour.
"In the face of a challenge to the validity of the Drager alcohol testing equipment, we won the court battle and now every local authority, metro and province can use all their expertise and resources to overcome the scourge of drinking and road use, which costs around 6 000 lives each year.
"On 11 November, together with the Asset Forfeiture Unit, we won the right to confiscate the vehicle of a repeat offender. In March he was tested and found to be 3.6 times the legal limit for alcohol. In April he was caught speeding at 189 kph (57.6% over the limit), and four days later he was again caught and tested at 4.6 times the legal limit for alcohol. I must warn that repeat offenders face the risk of having these measures used against them if they violate our sensible and necessary traffic regulations and laws. I am told that the Department has, together with the provinces and local authorities identified several people who fall into this category - they know who they are and so risk having their vehicles confiscated if caught again. Not only will these people lose their vehicles (and if they are paying them off, they will have to continue to make payments), but they will also face the full might of conventional punishment, heavy fines and possible goal sentences or cancellation of their driving licences.
The Department also believes that the sound principles of the 16 days of activism against abuse of women and children should be carried over into the road safety campaign. In this regard, we will be working with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport visiting shebeens and taverns emphasising the importance of family values as well as respect for each other. We are saying 'omela ekhaya' and we reject all forms of violence against women and children.
It is fundamental that we transform our road safety culture as this is a critical element in building a responsible citizenship and rediscovering the simple truths of care and concern. These tasks are not glamorous or headline grabbing, but they are worthy of our total commitment.
In five days, hundreds of thousands of people will begin the long trek to annual holidays, as schools and factories close. My plea to the public at a large is to personally promote road safety, to discuss it around your dinner table or when with friends, and to keep it on the agenda of EVERY road user in our country.
Road Safety is not just an issue during the festive season. As I stated earlier, there are daily deaths and injuries on our roads, and we take advantage of the Festive Season period to promote road safety, as it is topical and has become traditional for a huge media interest at this time of year.
Ladies and gentleman, today is an example of cooperation between government and business, with the hand over of 30 vehicles by Imperial Fleet Services to boost law enforcement on our roads. We are most grateful, at this time of year, to have these vehicles to help us to have a presence on the roads, and to boost the limited resources of law enforcement agencies.
More than 90% of deaths on the roads follow a traffic violation. I would like to appeal to law enforcement officers today to please plan and undertake their law enforcement actions to address offences taking place on our roads in a regular and effective manner. History has shown that it is possible to make a successful contribution to the fight against road accidents. I have received disturbing reports about complaints from traffic officers and others about what seems to be a mismatch in the high expectations we have on the one hand, and the resources they are given on the other to do their job. I have asked both the Arrive Alive team and the provincial authorities to do whatever they can to do whatever they can to ensure that our traffic officials are given every assistance to carry the burden of enforcement during this busy period.
In the meantime, may I extend Government's gratitude to all of you for the sacrifices you commit and for the forbearance and love of your families and those close to you as quite often you will be separated during this time when people and families draw close.
I would also like to thank the media most sincerely for their participation in promoting road safety. Last December the department conducted more than a thousand interviews, and, according to independent sources and the public, this had some effect on road behaviour. We ask for your continued support for this cause.
Lastly, we better warn those who are a law unto themselves that they should obey traffic rules or else they will face the full might of the law. I expect no less than a "no tolerance for offenders" operation over the coming weeks.
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.
Take care, God bless and Arrive Alive!
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
30 November 2004
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za)
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