MBOMBELA – The MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Mr Vusi Shongwe, has commended traffic officials for their recent successful operations conducted in the province.
Traffic officials led a month-long operation from September 1 to September 30. During this time about 455 drivers received written charges for driving without valid licences. More than 864 were fined for failure to carry theirs with them.
Furthermore, a total of 1 064 vehicles were discontinued for not being roadworthy while another 979 were impounded. The department urged road users to meet it halfway by promoting safe road usage to achieve safe transportation of goods and people.
“We cannot continue to have such high number of crashes that injure and kill people who are often economically active and providers of their families. We should have an attitude that says one death too many and that enough is enough. We should have zero tolerance towards negligent and reckless driving,” Shongwe says.
The MEC has also urged players in the transport sector such as owners of bus and minibus taxis, trucks and other motor-vehicles and drivers to ensure they prioritise road safety.
The department has also seen a decline in drunk driving as only seven motorists were arrested on this charge. Others were fined for overtaking dangerously, traffic-signal violations, stopping on a free way, and using cellphones while driving.
Shongwe said law-enforcement officers should take a harsh stance against motorists and drivers who unnecessarily disregard traffic rules, thereby endangering other people’s lives. “All people who witness bad driver behaviour should report it to authorities,” he said.
While transportation of goods and people is critical to the economy of developing countries like ours, the MEC maintains that it is the responsibility of all people to ensure that it is done safely.
The department said it would continue to implement various road-safety and law-enforcement initiatives throughout the year.
