The Eastern Cape has developed a special plan to improve road safety for the festive season.
The Eastern Cape has developed a special plan to improve road safety for the festive season.
This plan will focus on “cross-border operations to avoid a situation of vehicles that come to our province with defects and unfit drivers [that will likely]cause accidents,” said Transport, Roads and Public Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu.
“We are mindful that our province is the breeding ground of the majority of the South African migrant labour force.
“Traditionally, these migrant labourers go back to their families during this period. It is during that process when they get involved in serious road accidents,” she said.
The MEC was speaking at the provincial launch of the 2013/14 festive season Arrive Alive campaign in Lubhasi village on Wednesday.
Marawu said most of the tourism destinations in the province were fully booked already, especially along the Wild Coast.
She said when an influx of tourists visit these destinations, the province usually experiences high traffic volumes on their routes.
“We will collaborate with all the role players from our neighbouring provinces in an effort to reduce speed offences, alcohol-related offences, overloading, reduce pedestrian offences, increase enforcement visibility and communicate road safety messages.”
Marawu said her department would be at the forefront of co-ordinating road safety operations in order to reduce the carnage associated with the N2.
This will include patrols and sporadic roadblocks throughout the festive season.
Traffic officers will be visible at every 30km stretch mainly targeting motorists, trucks, taxis, buses, local holiday travellers, international tourists, long-distance coaches and dangerous goods carriers.
“We will intensify our road safety operations, working together with the Community Road Safety Councils, traditional leaders, schools and communities along the routes,” she said, “with a particular focus on pedestrians who continue to die unnecessarily on our roads.
“We will further ensure that our road rangers are more visible through effective monitoring in order to reduce the number of stray animals on our roads.” – SAnews.gov.za
