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Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says for the first time in five years, the country has managed to reduce the road death toll by 700 so far this year.
She was speaking at the launch of the 365 Days Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign, along the N1 near Kroonstad in the Free State.
Creecy adds that the country recorded more than 9 000 road fatalities this year and that her department aims to halve this number by 2030.
National highways like the N1 and N2, as well as many secondary roads, including the infamous Moloto Road and the R61, will get special attention.
Law enforcement agencies have tightened their grip on unlicensed drivers and road-unworthy vehicles for the festive season.
Their focus will be on public passenger transport, including minibus taxis, cross-border traffic and long-distance travel, all of which historically contributed to major crashes.
While there is concern that pedestrians account for more than half of those who are killed on the road, motorists expressed their excitement over the presence of law enforcers.
Creecy says they will launch public awareness campaigns to educate road users about road safety.
The department has also identified hotspot areas prone to crashes, for authorities to patrol on weekends and when there’s congestion on the roads.
Creecy also passes her condolences to the Free State families who lost their loved ones. This, as the province recorded 23 deaths from vehicle crashes in the last four weeks.
“A massive public education and awareness campaign; partnerships with all levels of government and all aspects of civil society; enhanced law enforcement operations focusing on driver and pedestrian behaviour and 24-hour patrols, particularly in high-risk areas.”
“Intensified law enforcement operations. Research shows weekends, late-night travel and fatigue periods are high risk. We will increase roadblocks, checks for vehicle roadworthiness, driver’s licenses, seatbelt and child-restraint use, as well as clamp down on speeding and drunken driving.”
The department also reveals that Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Limpopo and Eastern Cape collectively account for 7 out of 10 crashes in the country.
The Premier of the Free State has stressed the importance of educating road users about road safety.
Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae says educating road users will ensure more people will not lose their lives during the festive season.
Letsoha-Mathae has also called on pedestrians to wear identifiable clothing and drivers to avoid driving while fatigued.
“When I listened to some of the passengers of the accident, they told me that, Premier, I saw it coming. So we are appealing to passengers to shout. And we are also appealing to the associations, when your passengers are complaining, listen to them.”
Authorities say regular patrols, roadworthiness and load management inspections will be the order of the day.
Most fatal accidents reportedly occur during the weekend after dark.
