With holiday fun comes great responsibility. As the year draws to a close, residents from different parts of the country, including Randfontein and its surrounding areas will be going on their merry way to various holiday destinations but they are advised to adhere to the rules of the road and exercise extreme caution when travelling.

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Speaking to the Herald ahead of the holidays, Rand West City Traffic Department (RWCTD) Chief Kenny Mampondo warned they will be out in full force.

“Please refrain from drinking and driving. We will ensure road safety for all users and root out lawlessness on roads. With the festive season in full swing, we would like to plead with motorists to exercise patience with other road users, specifically pedestrians, cyclists and bikers.

Statistics in our country and in the Gauteng province show that pedestrian accidents contribute to more than 50 percent of road fatalities.

“It is because of this that we urge people to exercise the utmost caution on the roads and ensure they observe the rules of the road. Every life is precious, and everyone needs to be responsible,” Mampondo said.

He also cautioned they will keep a close eye on children’s safety on the road. “It is during this time that we see young children being run over by motorists. It is because of this that we continue to plead with parents to take care of their children as it is a busy period. Buckle up and rather be late than sorry,” Mampondo added.

He concluded by wishing all holiday goers and motorists a safe trip.

“I wish residents in Rand West City a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.”

The Automobile Association (AA) also urged all South Africans to ‘Take road safety into your own hands’ and said there are a few basic things that we are all aware of that can help reduce the number of road accident fatalities.

These include not drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel or walking on the road, and not texting or speaking on a mobile phone while driving. Doing regular vehicle maintenance checks, including assessing the only part of a vehicle to touch the road surface, the tyres, is equally important to road safety.

A few basic vehicle maintenance activities can help keep you safer on the road. Every time you visit a filling station to get fuel, make it a habit to also get your tyre pressure checked, and preferably do this first thing in the morning when tyres are still cold and will give a truer pressure reading. You may also ask the attendant to check your oil and windscreen wiper water. That way you know that the basics are covered on a regular basis.