RTMC urges motorists to whip their vehicles into shape ahead of festive season
Vehicle fitness such as defective brakes, burst tyres, defective lights contribute to fatal crashes on the road.
The road traffic management corporation (RTMC) has shed a spotlight on the importance of servicing a vehicle ahead of the 2022 festive season.
RTMC found that vehicle and driver fitness such as defective brakes, burst tyres, defective lights as well as drunk driving and negligence were contributing factors to fatal crashes on the road.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said as a result, law enforcement would be stepped up on the road, with officers targeting unroadworthy vehicles.
“Motorists who intend travelling for the festive season holidays should fix their vehicles and ensure that they are fit for the road.
“No excuses will be accepted.
“Law enforcement officers will not hesitate to impound vehicles with the above defects, including cracked windscreens,” said Zwane.
He warned that the clamp down on unroadworthy vehicles would inconvenience travellers, as they would be ordered to fix their vehicles and have them roadworthy tested before they were allowed on the road again.
He said maintaining a car under law enforcement order would be costlier than doing so voluntarily because of the “addition to traffic fines and impound fees”.
“The last thing anybody wants to experience is to have their trip interrupted by foreseeable and preventable factors.”
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Zwane also called on partygoers to arrange sober drivers or use public transport after partaking in end-of-year festivities.
“Drunk driving is another contributor to road crashes and law enforcement officers are scaling up their operations to deal with this challenge,” he warned.
He said law enforcement operations were being stepped up nationally this festive season, especially with predicted heavy rainfall.
Zwane said it was important for motorists to ensure that wipers worked optimally to ensure visibility on rainy days.
He further warned those planning to engage in corrupt activities within traffic departments to curb their enthusiasm.
“Those who are planning to use their end-of-year bonuses to buy a driver’s licence are warned that anti-corruption agents are keeping an eye on transactions at licensing centres.”
He said last month 15 motorists were arrested for displaying fraudulent discs on their vehicle and four traffic officials for bribery, fraud and corruption.
He said the public was also encouraged to join the campaign against fraud and corruption by providing information to RTMC by email to ntacu@rtmc.co.za or via WhatsApp on 083 293 7989.
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