Traffic authorities gear up for New Year festivities

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Pretoria - Traffic law enforcement authorities will ensure tight traffic control during the New Year’s Eve festivities tomorrow, says the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

“Traffic law enforcement authorities are gearing up for highly visible and tighter traffic control ahead of New Year's Eve festivities and the end of holidays,” said the corporation’s spokesperson Simon Zwane, on Tuesday.

Traffic is expected to increase in the coming days as motorists move to different venues to celebrate the dawn of the New Year. Thereafter they will be driving back to major cities to resume work at the end of the holiday period.

“This festive season has been exceptionally busy for all traffic authorities in the country. They have managed to stop about a million vehicles in all roadblocks that have been set up in all the major national routes and provincial roads,” said Zwane.

The corporation said the abuse of alcohol, speeding, reckless and negligent driving have emerged as major issues. They have been identified in most crashes that have been investigated during this period.

The RTMC said stray animals and jaywalking have also paid a significant contributory role in the number of crashes and fatalities recorded.

In addition, head-on and multiple vehicle collisions have been common as a consequence of drivers overtaking when it is unsafe to do so, driving in wrong lanes, tyre bursts and brake failure.

Zwane said a consolidated report of all crashes and fatalities will be released at the end of the festive season in January once all accidents have been collated, verified and validated.

“It is critical that South Africans are provided with accurate and verified information about the state of safety on the roads because roads are a shared space and users are important stakeholders.

“We call on all the non-governmental organizations to work with us in promoting responsible and appropriate behaviour on the roads to reduce carnage,” he explained.

Members of the public and road users are urged to call 0861 400 800 to report bad behaviour on the road. – SAnews.gov.za