13 December 1998
As factories and builders closed for the holidays, the Minister of Transport Mac Maharaj sent out a special plea to the hundreds of thousands of South Africans on the roads to please arrive safely at their destinations.
"Before you leave to start your holidays please think carefully about your journey along our roads. Do not speed as you will not get there more quickly if you are caught breaking the law or if you have a crash.
"Last year more than 1,171 people died between December and January on our roads and more than 6,000 people were seriously injured in almost 66,000 crashes.
"At the end of the day, these are just figures. The real story is the sadness we all carry for the people whose lives were cut short on our roads, or who will be in wheelchairs or lie comatose in a hospital bed for the rest of their lives.
"This is a time of rejoicing and celebration. Please do not let it become a time of sorrow and sadness for your family and friends.
"Traffic officers around the country will be out on the roads to enforce the law against the two main killers on our roads: speeding and drinking and driving.
"This year they will, for the first time, be equipped with the evidentiary breathalyser, the results of which is now accepted as evidence in court. The equipment is highly mobile, allowing the traffic officers to set up roadblocks more easily and quickly.
"We will now be able to lock up drunken drivers on the spot and get them off the road. If found guilty, they will get criminal records.
"We have also equipped our officers with up-to-date radar and laser devices to monitor speed. ARRIVE ALIVE says "Don't fool yourself, speed kills" because we know from all the accident statistics and reports we have collected and studied that the speed of the vehicle determines to a large extent the outcome of the crash.
"Please do not become a statistic on our roads this year. This is the season of goodwill, please extend a hand of goodwill to all your fellow road users so that we can all ARRIVE ALIVE in 1999.
On behalf of my department, the nine MECs of Transport, the Road Accident Fund, which sponsors ARRIVE ALIVE and the road traffic community, without whose efforts the campaign ARRIVE ALIVE would not be possible, I would like to wish you peace over the festive season and all best wishes for the New Year."
UP TO DATE STATISTICS OF ROAD FATALITIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE ARRIVE ALIVE INFORMATION CENTRE (012) 309 3669, WHICH OPERATES FROM 8AM TO 5PM DAILY.
Issued by: Didi Moyle PA and Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Transport
Contact number: 082 808 5108