N Cape kicks off Arrive Alive Easter campaign

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Pretoria – Traffic officials in the Northern Cape say they will show no mercy to those who break the rules of the road, especially over the Easter holiday.

“We [are warning] those who are a law unto themselves that they should obey traffic rules or else they will face the full might of the law.

“We will leave no stone unturned as we tighten the grip on lawlessness on our roads. I am pleased to say that the Arrive Alive campaign is still going strong. Provincially, the traffic authorities are participating in the campaign and I trust that they will continue to do so without fail,” said MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison Martha Bartlett.

MEC Bartlett was speaking at the launch of the provincial Arrive Alive campaign for the Easter holiday in Maruping, R31 Hotazel Road in Kuruman on Monday.

The MEC said more than 90 percent of deaths on the roads are caused by traffic violations.

She said individuals and communities must take responsibility for their behaviour and the behaviour of their families and friends in order to reduce road fatalities.

MEC Bartlett said their Easter holiday Arrive Alive campaign will focus on     impaired driving, vehicle occupant safety, dangerous driving, pedestrian safety and safer vehicles.

“I would like to appeal to enforcement officers today to please plan and undertake their law actions to address offences taking place on our roads in a regular and effective manner.

“History has shown that it is possible to make a successful contribution to the fight against road accidents. I appeal to all members of the community to be patient with our law enforcers on the roads as they would be at work and in action.

“We must continue to strive to increase respect for human life, and treat road carnage with the seriousness it deserves,” she said.

The MEC said over the past two years, the province lost five lives respectively during Easter weekends.

Last month, the province recorded 20 road fatalities, with seven of these occurring in Kuruman.

The MEC said they hope to bring these numbers down through new alcohol testers at all 10 of their traffic stations, new speed machines (which will be rolled out soon) and their new fleet of vehicles that will ensure the visibility of traffic officers throughout the province. - SAnews.gov.za