York Road Primary School, Lansdowne, 4 May 2001
The Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar has expressed delight in finally roping the private sector to support in full force the Road Safety Campaign. The Minister encouraged Engen Road Safety initiative, which will help to reduce our country’s terrible record of roads carnage which has claimed lives of men, women and children, caused countless injuries and loss of hundreds of millions of Rands.
The Minister is now more optimistic that this project will serve as a beacon of hope for all the learners as Transport department spares no efforts in its quest to build a generation of responsible road users.
"I am not speaking of the occasional expression on road rage. I am referring to a major perennial problem of bad driver behaviour, bad pedestrian behaviour and the refusal or failure on the part of road users to observe the rules of the road," said Minister Omar.
He further said that Department of Education is working in close co-operation with Transport department in developing Road Traffic Safety Educational material. The Dream Rides Project will afford the children an opportunity to instill the basics of Road Safety in a fun and entertaining environment. The Project teaches children the importance of safe behaviour in a car, on a bicycle or as a pedestrian. The Minister appreciates the use of scholar patrols and their continuous efforts to save lives of the children.
The Minister is scheduled to meet with various stakeholders and role-players to strengthen the Road Safety Strategy. He appealed for exercising of extra precautions amid the bad cloudy and rainy weather conditions enveloping the whole country. These kinds of weather conditions reduce visibility. He warns that speeding could lead to more accidents, as vehicle control is difficult under wet and slippery conditions. He further urged motorists to switch on their vehicles headlights and strictly observe the following distance rule.
"During the past Ester period, we embarked upon an intensive communication and law enforcement program. The Arrive Alive Campaign was successful in many parts of the country as a result of the implementation of the program by all provinces. We can do better than that with the added commitment from the private sector. I thank Engen and all its partners and co-sponsors in this beautiful endeavour", Minister Omar concluded.
ISSUED BY
Mike Mabasa
HEAD: Media Liaison and Corporate Communication
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT