The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Public Safety has warned motorists to comply with the rules of the road or face the might of the law.
This as the department kicked off its build-up campaign to the 2025 Easter Road Safety operations.
“Every holiday, we bury more loved ones due to preventable road crashes. We cannot afford to treat this as routine anymore. This is a matter of life and death.
“Our message is simple. If you don't comply with the law, expect to be stopped, expect to be fined, expect to be arrested. We are done watching lives lost to drunk driving, unlicensed drivers, bribes, and unroadworthy taxis. Enough is enough,” the department said in a statement.
A public education campaign is also underway aimed at changing public behaviour on the roads.
“Targeted road safety messaging is being rolled out in schools, churches, and public spaces. Community members are encouraged to report reckless driving, corruption, and illegal vehicles.
“This is about building a culture of accountability, not fear. We want everyone to get home safely. We want dignity on our roads. Bribery will not be tolerated, and any officer caught accepting a bribe will face immediate action,” the department warned.
At the launch, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Spokesperson Xolani Fihla, reminded motorists of their responsibility.
“For your safety, when you are hitting the road, ensure that you do have the proper documentation that allows you to be driving that vehicle. Also ensure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.
“The cause of these major accidents is due to driver behaviour. So, the driver…please don’t drive under the influence of alcohol, avoid excessive speeding and avoid reckless and negligent driving,” Fihla said.
He also had a word of warning for pedestrians.
“What we’ve also noticed and seen is a greater number of our pedestrians dying on the roads. This is due to them not adhering to the rules of the road. So, our message for our pedestrians as well, is to please stay safe.
“If you are going to be walking, don’t walk directly on a public road. Use the sidewalk or a verge. If you are walking at night or in the early morning, make sure that you are wearing bright or reflective clothing so that you are seen. Most importantly, don’t walk on our roads while intoxicated,” he said.
Acting Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Clement Masinge, urged those visiting Gauteng to also adhere to the rules of the road and to prioritise safety.
“We want to encourage motorists when they’re on holidays through our city to take enough rest and ensure that they stick to the rules of the road. We are not going to tolerate…speeding, overloading in the taxis and buses.
“We will go all out in numbers to ensure that our motorists in the City of Johannesburg remain safe throughout this month,” Masinge added. – SAnews.gov.za
