Traffic law enforcement officers will be out in full force during the forthcoming Easter holidays, Transport Minister Ben Dikobe Martins, has warned.
And deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has also warned that traffic officers will be arresting those motorists who do not adhere to road regulations. “We are going to enforce the law without fear or favour, if you drive without a valid driver’s license we are going to arrest you,” she said. “Our message is clear, nobody is worth dying,” she said.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Easter Holiday Road Safety campaign in Mentz outside Polokwane today, 10 March, Martins called on the public to become actively involved in road safety issues. “Government alone cannot win this war, no matter how much resources are invested into the road safety campaign.”
According to Martins, more traffic officers are going to be deployed in most of the country’s busiest roads during the Easter holidays. The loss of over 1000 people per month comes at a huge social and economic cost to the country and road fatalities cost the country just above R3 billion each year, he said.
Prior to the launch, Martins joined traffic officers manning a road block on the R71 road which leads to Moria. The road carries a high traffic volume during the Easter holidays with most people going to Moria. Most pedestrians are knocked down by speeding vehicles on the same road.
At the roadblock, Martins assisted traffic officers in inspecting some of the vehicles and also checking drivers’ licenses. Most of the motorists were seen with their seatbelts, Few did not have seatbelts on.
Two vehicles were impounded at the roadblock for being unroadworthy and the drivers were issued with traffic fines.
“Pedestrians have been the main victims of road fatalities accounting for about 53%t during the 2012 Easter period,” Martins said.
Alcohol has been identified as one of the causes of road fatalities followed by unroadworthy vehicles.
Martins also called on motorists to always ensure that they buckle-up and advised those who will be traveling long distances to stop at rest stops.
News source: SAnews.gov.za
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