NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 172
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 â 2009)
Mr D A Worth (DA-FS) asked the Minister of Transport:
Whether his department has put any additional measures in place to bring
down road injuries and fatalities in the Free State, in the 2009-10 festive
season statistics; if not, why not; if so, (a) what measures and (b) what
are the further relevant details?
CW265E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
a) Yes, the Department of Transport (DoT) has placed additional measures
in place during the forthcoming festive season, not only in the Free
State Province, but country-wide. These include the following:-
Traffic Law Enforcement is an ongoing programme throughout the year.
Additional resources have been committed to Traffic Law Enforcement for
the 2009/2010 festive season, which started from the 15th November 2009,
until the 15th January 2010. Traffic volumes increase dramatically
during the festive period and this normally leads to increased levels of
accidents, injuries and fatalities on our roads.
The DoT has planned joint operations with other relevant law enforcement
agencies, such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African
National Defence Force (SANDF), Emergency Medical Services (EMS),
Disaster Management, fire departments, the Road Traffic Management
Corporation (RTMC), municipal traffic and security offices, the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and various other institutions. This is to
ensure maximum visibility at all times during the festive period in order
to prevent traffic and other criminal related offences that usually
result in serious injuries and unnecessary loss of lives.
The following activities will be implemented during the festive period
with strict supervision from senior traffic personnel:-
⪠Increased law enforcement of road rules on accident prone areas that
contribute more to accident statistics by applying the principle of
80:20, including mini-roadblocks and speed control through speed
activities;
⪠patrolling of hazardous roads, improved alcohol testing and
prosecutions;
⪠numerous unannounced blitz operations will be undertaken at
identified problematic locations and areas covering urban and rural
areas;
⪠moving violations such as reckless and negligent driving and drug
related offences, driving without seat belts, speeding and overloading
would be targeted;
⪠vehicle fitness, including, amongst others, brake lights, tyres and
wheels, steering mechanisms and wipers will be checked at the
roadside; and
⪠all national and provincial roads will be prioritised during the
festive period and beyond.
b) The following activities are planned in terms of size and levels of
involvement with other stakeholders
Joint Operations and roadblocks
⢠Speed projects (daily for the entire period).
⢠Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) Provincial
Operations/Futha = alcohol and seatbelt (10 roadblocks).
⢠Inter-provincial and Corridor Projects (10 Operations).
⢠Roadblocks with SAPS and other stakeholders (50 roadblocks).
Bus Roadworthy Inspections
The Provincial Department of Transport in the Free State, together
with the Department of Transport, is planning a Bus Roadworthy
Operation, which will target all buses travelling through the Free
State Province. Buses will be escorted from the provincial or
national roads to the nearest Vehicle Testing Station where they will
be thoroughly inspected to determine its roadworthiness. If a bus is
found to be un-roadworthy, such bus would be impounded until a
replacement bus is dispatched to transport the awaiting passengers.
The replacement will also be subjected to inspection before being
allowed to transport the passengers further.
Buses found to be not roadworthy will be issued with a spot fine, with
the possibility of being taken off the road permanently.