20 June 2002
In support of the Joint initiative of the South African Quadriplegic Association and Arrive Alive to make our roads safer, the South African National Minister of Transport, Abdulah M. Omar called upon traffic authorities and motorists to ensure that all learners and holiday makers travelling to their winter holidays Arrive Alive.
The Minister, who is attending the Southern African Transport and Communication Commission (SATC) meeting of Senior Officials and committee of Ministers as from Tuesday June 17 to 20, 2002 in Angola, said the safety of all passengers and learners can never be left to chances, but enforced aggressively.
"The future generation and few holiday makers will be travelling in buses and taxis as from late today, we will work day and night to ensure that they travel in safe and roadworthy vehicles, drivers are following all rules and regulation of the road and driving responsibly" He said.
Minister Omar added that parents should take responsibility of learners as soon as they Arrive at home. "Many young pedestrians are dying on our roads, Parents, brothers and sisters should take responsibility to sensitise learners to be responsible pedestrians during the holiday. They must insist on basic rules and regulations of the road" He said.
Law enforcement officers around the country have vowed to root-out irresponsible drivers in particular, drunk drivers. No mercy would be shown to those who continue to violate all rules of the road as they drive in dangerous speed with unroadworthy vehicles.
"Our Law enforcement Officers will show no mercy to any dangerous driver, dangerous drivers must be taken off the road for the sake of other road users and their families" Minister said.
In a unique pilot project, teams of quadriplegics and Arrive Alive officials will man selected sites from 08:00 - 16:00 on Friday, 21 June, Saturday, 22 June and Sunday, 14 July. Jumping castles will be set up at these sites (N3 - Drakensberg Star Stop at Van Reenen's, N1 North - Petroport Panorama near Pretoria, N1 South - One Stop at Bloemfontein) and children will be able to burn excess energy, jumping on the jumping castles for free, while the parents take a much needed safety break.
"Fatigue is a cause of many accidents, especially over holiday periods, when drivers tend to drive long distances without stopping every 2 hours or 200 kilometers. This project aims to make these breaks extra enjoyable for the children. We are very excited that the Quadriplegic Association came forward with the proposal for this campaign and will extend it during December if it proves to be a success", says the Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar.
"We want to make people aware that accidents can lead to life-long disabilities. Many of our members are paralysed due to spinal cord injuries sustained in traffic accidents. This is why we have teamed up with Arrive Alive in this project", says Ari Seirlis, National Director of the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa. "We want drivers to think of the after-effects of accidents when they get behind the steering wheels of their vehicles. We want them to concentrate more and to obey the rules of the road. We want accidents to decrease."
The project also aims to empower quadriplegics who participate by paying them an allowance.
Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Acting HEAD: Media Relations and Corporate Communications
Cell: 082 889 2545
Tel: 012 309 3500
mabayan@ndot.pwv.gov.za