Local motorists urged to be considerate for cyclists this Transport Month
“Our message to motorists is to understand that cyclists have a right to be on the road, and they must share the road responsibly with them.”
To commemorate Transport Month (October), a month used to advance SA’s road safety initiatives, Bedfordview Edenvale News spoke to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) about road safety for cyclists.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said cyclists fell under the category of vulnerable road users and deserved protection.
“Our message to motorists is to understand that cyclists have a right to be on the road, and they must share the road responsibly with them.
“Motorists must reduce speed in the vicinity of cyclists and give them enough space to use the road without being intimidated or threatened,” explained Zwane.
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According to RTMC, cyclist fatalities in the country are 1.4%.
“Unfortunately, I do not have figures for Ekurhuleni because the numbers are small but not insignificant,” he added.
“We have activations where we engage with motorists in high-risk areas to sensitise them about the impact of their conduct on vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
“Traffic officers are deployed daily to ensure motorists drive safely and don’t endanger the lives of other road users.
“We are heightening these measures to reduce road fatalities this month,” said Zwane.
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He said their events and seminars aimed to raise awareness about all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, who constituted 43%, the highest number of people who die on the roads.
Zwane said they had introduced evidential alcohol testing to deal with drunken driving, a common cause of fatalities.
“We fitted our vehicles with number plate recognition technology to identify errant motorists and deal with them.
“The EMPD has also put in place several useful mechanisms to assist road users to report unsafe road conditions,” he said.
The RTMC is open to working with all groups that seek to promote safety on the roads to save lives.
