Pinetown, 22 November 1999
Chairperson,
Honorable Ministers of Transport from Provinces,
Distinguished guests,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Seven days from today heralds the beginning of the festive season. Schools all over the country will close their academic doors for the year and businesses will start preparing for a millennium shut down. Our people in their millions from all walks of life will be gearing themselves up for the celebrations of the Century, the African Century.
For all our law enforcement officers all over the country and for us in the Department of Transport national, provincial and local government alike, it is time for overtime. It is overtime not only in monetary terms but also in terms of guaranteeing that our road network will be safe to facilitate a smooth entry into the 21st Century. My Department and I, together with all Provincial Ministers of Transport wish to call upon all road users to join the partnership against road carnage. In partnership we will ensure that an accident-free festive season becomes a reality in the history of our country.
I'm calling for this partnership because South Africa has a bad road traffic accident record. The shocking statistics of 1997 and earlier statistics told their own story; with 10 000 people killed (in 1997) and scores others seriously injured. Yesterday at the Standard Bank Arena, we as a nation stopped for a moment in sadness and mourning. We remembered loved ones we will never see again because their lives were cut short on our roads. Others are in wheelchairs or lie comatose in a hospital bed and so they will be for the rest of their lives.
As a nation we must not and cannot tolerate all these unnecessary accidents. I am launching today the current phase of the Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign with specific emphasis on DRINKING AND DRIVING. Alcohol is a drug which affects the central nervous system resulting in cognitive and psychomotor impairment. I emphasise that it is very dangerous to drive under the influence of liquor because you may have to live for the rest of your life with the knowledge that your irresponsible behaviour cost the life of another person, a parent or child. It could also mean your own death or permanent disability, paralysis, brain damage or loss of limbs. Drinking and Driving transforms you into a potential killer.
I therefore issue a word of caution to all drivers who get in their cars after consuming alcohol that the police will, when stopping you, arrest you immediately and you will be charged and tried for a serious criminal offence. Once you are found guilty you will have a criminal record in addition to being severely punished. Your name will be published in the media
All road users should also be warned that while our attention will be on Alcohol, other traffic offences will NOT be overlooked. Chairperson, I'm proud to announce the 6 Road Safety Commandments of Arrive Alive which all of you should observe. These are;
Chairperson, I also wish to announce that Traffic Law Enforcement Agencies at local and provincial level are embarking on an aggressive law enforcement campaign which will include visible policing, speed timing, static & roving road blocks.
Camera speed law enforcement will be intensified on our major routes. To this end, I now have received concurrence from all provinces for the implementation of the 100km/h. Both the bus and taxi industries have agreed that the speed limit for their vehicles will be reduced to 100km/h in place of the 120km/h where applicable. I am now able to go ahead with the promulgation process and I want to announce that on Friday, 26 November 1999 this will be done from which date the new speed limit rule will be strictly enforced. It must be noted that the speed limit for truck will remain unchanged at 80km/h.
Apart from the standard ongoing traffic law enforcement on the national and other main routes, intensified operations will be carried out all over the country. Let me share with you some of our plans.
In Kwazulu-Natal intensified speed operations will be carried out on the N3 corridor and other major routes leading into the province. This will be carried by Provincial and Local authorities throughout KZN. Roadblocks targeting drunk driving and vehicle defects will also be carried out on these routes.
Roadblocks will be erected on major routes such as Port Edward, M4 Zimbali, M4 South Durban, N2 Enseleni, N2 Darnal, M4 Umhlanga, and N2 Matubatuba and other areas in the province. As many traffic officers as possible will be on duty over the festive season to deal with drivers who do not comply with the rules of the road.
In Gauteng law enforcement operations will be equally tight. No mercy will be shown to offenders. Atleast 1 413 operations will be conducted all over the Gauteng Province. In total, 203 road blocks have been planned. In addition 447 speed operations will also be carried out. Other operations include road side check points to check for seat belts, driver and vehicle fitness, alcohol, etc.
In the Western Cape law enforcement operations have been intensified. 750 operations which include 180 road blocks and 440 speed operations will be taken to all Western Cape major routes. Most of these operations, both at provincial and at national level will be conducted as Joint Operations between Traffic Authorities, the SAPS and the SANDF. All serious offences will be targeted during these operations.
No overloading of both goods and passengers will be tolerated. Drinking and Driving will be monitored strictly at our road blocks and through random pulling-out of vehicles.
I want to encourage both drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts when undertaking either short or long distance trips. A proposal for the installation of seatbelts on our inter-city busses and luxury coaches is currently under investigation. I favour such a step but its feasibility and practical implementation through co-operation with stakeholders are being considered.
As far as enforcing the law is concerned, as Minister I am encouraged that the criminal justice system is also gearing itself in support of our efforts. Last week, a driver of a passenger bus was fined R15 000.00 or 3 years in jail for overloading. He was carrying 150 passengers on an 81 capacity bus.
In another incident on the 05 November in Lainsburg, law enforcement officials apprehended a goods truck weighing 16 000 kg's instead of 9000 kg. This truck also exceeded the legal speed limit of 80km/h. The driver was traveling at 130 km/h. I am pleased to report that the driver was charged and hauled before Court. The Magistrate sentenced the driver to a fine of R8 000 and suspended his driving licence for 3 months. We are determined to bring all traffic offenders to book.
Chairperson allow me at this juncture to express appreciation to all the law enforcement officers, men and women for their dedicated work and service to the country. Most of them will not be with their families for the holidays and celebrations but looking after the safety of road users. To all of you and your families a big thank you for your commitment and hard work. Permit me also to express our sincere condolences to the families of those officers who lost their lives in the course of duty. We also remember those who suffered injuries and wish them a speedy recovery.
I will be doing injustice also not to convey appreciation for the role of the media during the Arrive Alive Campaign. Your continued support for this campaign is vital and acknowledged. I wish to indicate that my office and that of my colleagues in provinces will be available 24 hours a day during this festive season to be of assistance to enable you to perform your functions as you continue to inform and educate our people about road safety. Once again, thank you.
I now wish to take this opportunity to thank the private sector, communities and organised formations for the sterling contribution they have made over the years to promote road safety. Allow me to extend my appreciation to the following organisations; the Vehicle Hire industry, the road freight industry, the Petroleum industry, the Motor Parts industry, the Liquor industry, the Cellular and telephone industry, the Bus industry, the taxi industry, Drive Alive, the AA, traditional leaders and many other organisations who went the extra mile in support of our initiatives and promoting road safety.
I have been informed that a number of these organisations will be launching their own separate campaigns to promote road safety. You have my full support because it complements our work and our people need road safety education. Together we must ensure that the millions of our people are better informed, empowered and educated on road safety matters. There are two ways of winning law compliance. One is tough law enforcement and the other is effective and successful road safety education.
I am proud to announce today Chairperson, that this festive season, all South African road-users will benefit from the introduction of an additional ten vehicles to the existing Arrive Alive campaign. For the first time these cars, courtesy of Hertz Rent-a-Car and Nissan SA, will be used exclusively for 24- hour traffic enforcement along the most dangerous stretches of SA's national and provincial roads. Thank you Hertz Rent-a-Car and Nissan SA.
Accessible and reliable vehicles for use in law enforcement are key to the success of any campaign of this magnitude. It is the first time we have received such a significant sponsorship in respect of support vehicles. These vehicles will be deployed strategically to concentrate on the following areas, particularly on our national routes.
All these vehicles have been sponsored for the period commencing from 01 December 1999 until 15 January 2000.
In attendance today, we also have Doculam cc, a supplier of Photo ID, Security and Safety products. At the beginning of 1999 they acquired Alcohol Control Technologies and its range of Alcotech Breathalysers to complement their other breathalyser products used in the workplace. The Alcotech Alert Breathalyser is an easy to use unit for accurate testing of drivers.
The Alcotech, which is already used in various parts of the country, is a revolutionary Torch Screener that allows law enforcement personnel to screen drivers fast and effectively without the use of mouthpieces. Even unwilling drivers can be screened whilst their licence is being checked, and pulled off the road for further evidential testing. I have been informed that some of these devises are available here today for testing.
The dawn of the millennium places a big responsibility and challenge on us to commit and invest more effort and resources to improve road safety. My Department has developed educational material for informal and formal education in road safety.
In conclusion, Chairperson may I take this opportunity to unveil our first Overload Control Strategic Partnership. Last year damage on our road surfaces was estimated at approximately R40m caused by overloading on N2 and N3 in Kwazulu-Natal alone.
The same study's recommendations have conservatively estimated a R30m per annum in cost savings should proper mechanisms be put in place for effective law enforcement and more visible policing on these main routes.
This Public – Public Partnership between the SA National Roads Agency represented by the Eastern Regional Office, and the Kwazulu-Natal Department of Transport represented by the Road Traffic Inspectorate will focus on the N3 Corridor comprising of the following routes: N3, N11, R33, R74 and R 103 to deal effectively with overloading.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the holiday season is upon us. I sincerely appeal to you all to spread the 6 Road Safety Commandments and speak in one voice against lawlessness on our roads and convey the message of good will among road users.
I repeat the 6 Road Safety Commandments
For those of you who will be travelling on our road network, ARRIVE ALIVE.