A series of safety measures have been unveiled in the Western Cape to keep roads safe over the festive season.
Bonginkosi Madikizela, Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, has announced a “Festive Season Safety Plan” as the area anticipates an influx of traffic from other parts of the province during the Christmas period.
A total of 5,445 vehicles entered the province in the 2019/20 festive season compared to 4,908 vehicles in 2018.
“Even though the province recorded a 23 percent decline in road fatalities during the previous festive season, I remain seriously concerned about the high number of people who are dying on our roads,” said Madikizela.
“The repetitive and major contributor to the high number of fatalities currently are pedestrians. This has remained a weekly pattern. If you are a pedestrian, do not drink and walk, please wear visible clothing and remove headphones and earphones when you cross the road. Play your part in making our roads safe.”
As part of the festive plan there will also be compulsory fatigue management awareness checkpoints at critical locations on the N1 and N2 to regulate specifically the drivers of public transport and to enforce the resting period of not driving more than 200km and or two hours at a stretch.
The Festive Season Safety Plan will focus on several key areas including:
- Scholar transport operations
- Public transport operations
- Weighbridge operations
- Driver and vehicle fitness operations
- Alcohol enforcement
- Fatigue management operations
- Seatbelt operations
- Speed operations
- Pedestrians
