Date: 09/04/2006
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Safer Easter Holiday Season Campaign
Address at the launch of the Safer Easter Holiday Season Campaign by Mr Jeff Radebe, (MP), Minister of Transport, at Joostenberg Weighbridge, Western Cape
MEC of Transport and Public Works: Marius Fransman,
MEC for Community Safety: Leonard Ramatlakane,
Heads of government departments present,
Members of the traffic police,
Representatives of BMW (SA),
Representatives of bus and taxi industry' CEO of RMTC,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we enter our Easter holiday season, our roads are characterised by huge traffic volumes in all corners of the country. This situation is compounded by the ever increasing vehicle and driver population. The unintended results are the traffic jams and delays we experience on our roads.
Last year alone more than 12 000 lives were lost on our roads and the estimated cost of traffic crashes to individuals and the country is in the region of R38 billion annually. South Africa is a developing country that cannot afford to spend this amount of money on road trauma when pressing challenges in health, education, housing and social welfare are calling for greater attention. It is therefore a serious call that our law enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned when dealing with unruly and irresponsible road behaviour.
The challenges that we face during this period is that most motorists continue to disregard the law by driving un-roadworthy vehicles, driving under the influence of alcohol, unsafe overtaking, skipping red traffic lights and ignoring stop signs and over speeding. In most instances Easter holidays are turned into holidays of moaning and burial instead of church services and celebrations because of reckless behaviour on our roads.
We are gathered here to witness the launch of the Safer Easter Holiday Season as part of the Arrive Alive Campaign. The timing of this event is most opportune as tomorrow coastal schools are re-opening. Those returning back should at all times exercise extreme caution due to possible delays as we intensify our enforcement operations.
The launch of the safer Easter holiday programme today is about educating all citizens to deal with these challenges and reduce the carnage on our roads including the stretch of the N1 road between Cape Town and Beaufort West and Aberdeen (R61). This stretch is notoriously known for the occurrence of road crashes and fatalities.
The success of implementing this programme will be enhanced by the co-operation between the Department of Community Safety and the Metro Police in conjunction with the private sector. The donation of six vehicles by BMW (South Africa) to this programme comes at a time when the safer Easter holiday programme desperately needs this kind of assistance. This will indeed augment our already over stretched resources. We say thank you BMW (SA).
In February this year two bus crashes occurred between Beaufort West and Aberdeen and another on the N7 killing two school children. High speed on bad roads, bad weather conditions, fatigue, negligence and inconsiderate driver behaviour as well as vehicle and driver fitness are often quoted as major causes of accidents. This trend is common among most long distance bus and mini bus taxi drivers. Those carrying passengers it is important to always put the value of the lives of people above anything else. Chasing profits and taking short cuts cannot be at the expense of human lives.
As government we are intervening through a number of initiatives in support of arrive alive. On Thursday I launched
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Safer Easter Holiday Season Campaign
Address at the launch of the Safer Easter Holiday Season Campaign by Mr Jeff Radebe, (MP), Minister of Transport, at Joostenberg Weighbridge, Western Cape
MEC of Transport and Public Works: Marius Fransman,
MEC for Community Safety: Leonard Ramatlakane,
Heads of government departments present,
Members of the traffic police,
Representatives of BMW (SA),
Representatives of bus and taxi industry' CEO of RMTC,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we enter our Easter holiday season, our roads are characterised by huge traffic volumes in all corners of the country. This situation is compounded by the ever increasing vehicle and driver population. The unintended results are the traffic jams and delays we experience on our roads.
Last year alone more than 12 000 lives were lost on our roads and the estimated cost of traffic crashes to individuals and the country is in the region of R38 billion annually. South Africa is a developing country that cannot afford to spend this amount of money on road trauma when pressing challenges in health, education, housing and social welfare are calling for greater attention. It is therefore a serious call that our law enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned when dealing with unruly and irresponsible road behaviour.
The challenges that we face during this period is that most motorists continue to disregard the law by driving un-roadworthy vehicles, driving under the influence of alcohol, unsafe overtaking, skipping red traffic lights and ignoring stop signs and over speeding. In most instances Easter holidays are turned into holidays of moaning and burial instead of church services and celebrations because of reckless behaviour on our roads.
We are gathered here to witness the launch of the Safer Easter Holiday Season as part of the Arrive Alive Campaign. The timing of this event is most opportune as tomorrow coastal schools are re-opening. Those returning back should at all times exercise extreme caution due to possible delays as we intensify our enforcement operations.
The launch of the safer Easter holiday programme today is about educating all citizens to deal with these challenges and reduce the carnage on our roads including the stretch of the N1 road between Cape Town and Beaufort West and Aberdeen (R61). This stretch is notoriously known for the occurrence of road crashes and fatalities.
The success of implementing this programme will be enhanced by the co-operation between the Department of Community Safety and the Metro Police in conjunction with the private sector. The donation of six vehicles by BMW (South Africa) to this programme comes at a time when the safer Easter holiday programme desperately needs this kind of assistance. This will indeed augment our already over stretched resources. We say thank you BMW (SA).
In February this year two bus crashes occurred between Beaufort West and Aberdeen and another on the N7 killing two school children. High speed on bad roads, bad weather conditions, fatigue, negligence and inconsiderate driver behaviour as well as vehicle and driver fitness are often quoted as major causes of accidents. This trend is common among most long distance bus and mini bus taxi drivers. Those carrying passengers it is important to always put the value of the lives of people above anything else. Chasing profits and taking short cuts cannot be at the expense of human lives.
As government we are intervening through a number of initiatives in support of arrive alive. On Thursday I launched
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