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The Department and RTMC have partnered with civil society groups and faith-based organisations
who will be rolling out education and awareness campaigns in their communities to ensure that all road users are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has implemented a strategic plan to reduce road crashes during the festive season.
The corporation has identified 20 crash hotspots across nine provinces, including the R573 in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga and the R21 in Kempton Park, Gauteng.
Speaking at the 2024 Road Safety Campaign launch at the N1 Carousel in Pretoria, RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi outlined the plan, emphasizing around-the-clock law enforcement.
Msibi says, “Our strategic deployment first starts with those areas, but over and above, for this year – we are enforcing a 24/7 because most of the accidents find expression and occur during the night or early hours of the morning when law enforcement is not there.”
The campaign aims to improve road safety during the high-traffic holiday period.
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The Department of Transport has also raised concerns about the increasing use of cellphones by motorists, highlighting the significant role this behavior plays in road crashes.
Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa addressed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport while presenting the proposed December/January Festive Season Road Safety Plan.
Hlengwa says, “Another growing and deeply concerning trend is the use of cellphones while driving, particularly amongst younger drivers and the so-called influencers, whether it’s texting, engaging on social media, or recording content for online platforms. This behavior significantly impairs drivers’ attention, reaction time, and decision-making, all in the bid of ukutrenda for likes, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. It is a dangerous and reckless reality. Studies show texting while driving increases the risk of crashes.”
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