27 March 2002
The Arrive Alive campaign today called upon all holidaymakers and worshippers around the country to drive more carefully and responsibly as we approach the Easter weekend. Arrive Alive said most of the accidents on our roads during this special time - meant for prayer and family reunion - are caused by drivers who drink and drive, drive recklessly and speed.
“Over the past years we have seen many lives lost due to driver’s negligence, irresponsible driving and speed. These deaths on the roads can be avoided. Drivers should relax and drive carefully and exercise patience”, the campaign spokesperson, Mike Mabasa warned.
Arrive Alive called on all passengers to stand firm against overloading. “Passengers must take responsibility for their own safety. If a drive is driving irresponsibly and negligently they must be reported to law enforcement officers along the route. It is for their own safety, is better to be safe than sorry”, Mabasa added.
Pedestrians should avoid walking on freeways and other major roads. Walking on busy roads is dangerous. Drivers should drive within the speed limit and keep safe following distances. They should not overtake when is not safe to do so, they should indicate on time and be considerate to other road users. Law enforcement officers in all provinces have been instructed to deal with all irresponsible and dangerous drivers. At roadblocks, traffic officers, the South African Police Service, the South African National Defense Force, the Emergency Services would be on high alert to remove from the road all unroadworthy vehicles. Drunk driver’s would be arrested and kept in jail until they are sober to face the law at our roadside courts.
The Limpopo Province is expected to have the busiest traffic as volumes picks towards Moria City. The N1 and the alternative route (R101) have been declared no nonsense area. In total, 13 law enforcement clusters are operational in the province. These clusters are checking speed, seatbelts and drunk driving. Qualified vehicle examiners are patrolling the N1 checking for unroadworthy vehicles. Examiners are issuing fines and discontinuing vehicles that are not fit to be on the road. All high volume intersections near Moria are being manned 24-hours. Special vehicles with road safety educators are deployed in rural to attend to pedestrian related problems and also educate communities on the importance of road safety.
In Kwazulu Natal, 20 road blocks are up and running throughout the province. These roadblocks are multi-disciplinary on major routes in and around the city. Four roadside courts are operational and every available officer is deployed on the road. A helicopter is patrolling the N3 and N2 to ensure speedy response of emergency teams and law enforcement officers. Tomorrow we will give an update on the North-West, Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Issued by
Mike Mabasa
HEAD: Media Liaison and Corporate Communications
Tel: 083 680 7048, Fax: 083 676 8450
Ministry of Transport