14 March 2002
The Arrive Alive Campaign every year note with sadness that the time, which is supposed to be dedicated to prayer, family reunions, conveyance of messages of hope and positiveness, is reduced to that of pain and misery as many of our brothers and sisters perish on our roads because of irresponsible driving.
Every year during the Easter holidays the traffic to the Limpopo Province on the N1 increase due to the large number of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members who travel to Moria City to observe their annual service or pilgrimage.
The increase in traffic brings many challenges. Among them the increase of unroadworthy vehicles, overloaded vehicles, use of bakkies or LDV's as a mode of public passenger transport and pedestrians along the main roads and community roads. In the previous years the Arrive Alive Information Center has recorded fatigue, pedestrians jay walking, overloading, speed and the fitness of vehicles as the major cause of accidents during the Easter Weekend.
This year we want to focus our attention on reducing pain and suffering that is extended to many of our families during this special time of the year. The Arrive Alive Information Center call upon all drivers to make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy and also very fit to be on the road. "Pedestrians must ensure that they cross where they are suppose to cross, do not drink and walk, always be on alert for on coming vehicles and ensure that they take responsibility for their own safety", warned the Arrive Alive spokesperson, Mike Mabasa.
Drivers who would be traveling long distances should take at least 10 minutes after every two hours to ensure that they maintain full control over their vehicles and also follow the basic commandments of the road which are: do not speed; do not overload; do not drink and drink; ensure driver and vehicle fitness; wear your seat belt and promote pedestrians safety. Passengers in buses, taxis and other modes of transport should refuse to be overloaded, and if the driver is driving at high speed and irresponsibly they must notify law enforcement officers on our roadside checks and roadblocks. Drivers should expect harsh punishments if found to be overloading, speeding, drinking and driving and driving unroadworthy vehicles.
"Our main function is not to punish and to arrest people, but to educate them. However, if people are anti-education and voluntary compliance, we will assist them to Arrive Alive by arresting them or giving them huge fines. The safety of our people can never be left to irresponsible drivers", Mabasa said. Where vehicles are not roadworthy the driver would be given a huge fine and the vehicle would be impounded. where drivers are drunk they would be arrested and kept in jail until they are sober to be charged and sentenced for endangering other road users lives.
ISSUED BY:
Mike Mabasa
HEAD: Media Liaison and Corporate Communication
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
TEL: 083 680 7048
FAX: 083 676 8450
Pretoria