Errant motorists to face the music

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Eldorado Park – Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has warned that law enforcement officers will adopt a zero tolerance approach for unlawful behaviour on the country’s roads this festive season.

She also warned that motorists caught driving above the speed limit will be arrested on the spot.

Speaking at the launch of the 2016 Festive Season Road Safety campaign on the N12 highway in Eldorado Park near Soweto earlier on Saturday, Minister Peters said the police and traffic officials will be out in full force in all of the country’s major traffic flows to ensure the safety of all road users.

 “Men are the most people who die on our roads because of their unfaithful behaviours by having multiple partners, they always rushing from partner to another,” she said.

The Minister said road safety is everyone's responsibility.

She expressed concern about motorists who drink and drive saying that will not be tolerated.

She appealed to motorists and pedestrians to drink responsibly or face the prospect of spending the festive season behind bars, or being killed in a crash.

“Some people they drink as if there is no tomorrow, these are the most dangerous people on our roads,” Minister Peters said.

The minister also expressed concern about the high number of children who are knocked down by vehicles saying parents should take responsibility and teach their children road safety at home.

“It is your duty as a parent to teach your children road safety issues at home,” she said.

The 2016 Festive Season Road Safety campaign kicked-off with Minister Peters taking part at a nearby roadblock in Eldorado Park manned by both the police, Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) officials and members of the South African Police Service.

At the roadblock, a woman driving with her small baby was arrested for drunk driving and scores of minibus taxis were impounded for being unroadworthy.

Most of the minibus taxis were impounded for operating without valid permits while others had defects or were unroadworthy.

Also at the same roadblock, a young driver was arrested after he was found to be in possession of what is suspected to be drugs. A number of private vehicles were also taken off the road for being unroadworthy.

Fines were issued to motorists driving with invalid driver’s licenses, for driving unroadworthy vehicles and not complying with road regulations.

Last year there was a slight decline in the death toll on South Africa’s roads, with 1 368 people dying between 1 December and 5 January.

Saturday’s launch was used to mark the passing out of 100 traffic officers who have been trained by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.

At the launch, Minister Peters was joined by the Deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga, Gauteng MEC for Community Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Department of Transport entities responsible for road safety. – SAnews.gov.za