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FILE: Police conducting a roadblock
Traffic volumes have increased in many major routes in Mpumalanga ahead of the June 16th long weekend. Law enforcement officers are conducting stop and search operations to ensure that motorists drive with caution and adhere to traffic laws.
MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie says they have already arrested three motorists for different offences.
“We have intensified our programme to make sure that with this long weekend, our people are safe on the roads. We want to thank our officers who are here and assisting us, even from the municipalities,” says Macie.
She says they are working together with stakeholders in the province in making sure that all available traffic officers from the municipality are on the ground.
Meanwhile, the National Department of Transport has cautioned motorists about road fatalities that occur during the off-peak season. The department says it recorded 231 fatalities in June, last year.
Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy attended a Youth Day Activation roadblock on the N12 in Potchefstroom, in North West. The operation forms part of the preparations for the Youth Day commemoration to be held in the area, on Monday.
“Majority of those who lose their lives on the roads are under the age of 40; the age cohort where there is the highest rate of accidents. We also know that 45 percent of those who lose their lives on the roads are pedestrians and 88 percent of accidents are caused by human behaviour,” says Creecy.
Minister Creecy says they will also prioritise educating pedestrians regarding the rules of the road.
“This June we will continue with two operations; the first is the law enforcement operation that will be tracking speeding and reckless driving and the second is the big outreach programme targeting youth and school children, throughout the country,” she says.
She says they want to improve pedestrian behaviour and cut down on the number of children who would be injured and killed in accidents on the roads.
