HAVE FUN...BUT OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROAD

FESTIVE FOCUS
HAVE FUN...BUT OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROAD

The festive season is a time for fun and celebration. But it is also a time when there are many more vehicles and more accidents on our roads.
Road accidents affect all of us. It is a serious problem that costs the government about R43 billion a year. Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe, said road accidents slow down economic growth. This means fewer jobs can be created.
Economic growth
Radebe said South Africas economy was growing well and drivers could help to ensure that it grows even faster if they obeyed the rules of the road. He encouraged traffic officers to punish drivers who broke the rules, because they put other people's lives at risk.
Road accidents happen mostly due to drivers ignoring the rules of the road, speeding, driving while drunk, skipping red robots and overtaking other vehicles when it is not safe to do so. This causes the death or injury of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
People die in accidents
Radebe said it was found that about 7 000 people who were involved in road accidents became permanently disabled every year. Last year alone, more than 12 000 people died in roads accidents.
'We are working very hard to ensure that there will be less road accidents during the 2006 holidays,' he said. As part of the road safety plan, there will be 1 000 roadblocks every day all over the country until after the December holidays. 'There will be more traffic officers to ensure that drivers who do not respect the rules of the road are caught and fined,' he said.
Video cameras will be placed inside some of the cars used by traffic officers to help them see which drivers break the rules. Radebe said the Department of Transport would be working together with other departments, schools and communities to highlight the importance of people being visible on the roads.
Safe environment
The government’s road safety plan is aimed at cutting the number of road deaths by half by 2014. 'The plan to reduce deaths on our roads starts now to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup will be played in a safe environment,' Radebe said.
- Justice Mohale

RULES FOR DRIVERS    

• Keep to the speed limit    
• Don't drink and drive   
• Don't skip red robots    
• Always obey traffic signs    
• Always wear a seat belt    
• Rest after long distances
• Don't overtake recklessly    
• Your car must be roadworthy
• You must have a valid driver's licence    

For more information,
call 1020