Driver behaviour and attitude critical to reducing road fatalities – MEC Mamabolo

GAUTENG.- Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo recently appealed to road users to change their attitude and behaviour on the road in an effort to reduce road fatalities in the province.

Mamabolo was speaking at the launch of Hlokomela – Ndlelanhle, the province’s Road Safety Campaign, a partnership between the provincial government and Gauteng’s major minibus taxi associations, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and National Taxi Alliance (NTA).

The campaign kicked off with joint law enforcement operations on the N12 and Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1 south of Johannesburg where the MEC and taxi leadership interacted with motorists encouraging them to observe and adhere to the rules of the road. They have also been emphasizing the importance of inspecting vehicles for roadworthiness as well as sharing information on public road safety.

The joint operation is the outcome of the resolutions taken at the Provincial Taxi Summit held in July this year.

Following the summit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Department and the associations for the taxi industry to assume a leadership role in spreading the message of road safety in the province.

Speaking at the launch, MEC Mamabolo stressed that the responsibility and decision to change making, rest with the driver. “We are appealing to motorists to change their conduct on the roads to assist us in drastically reducing road fatalities. They should refrain from using cellphones while driving, not speed, refrain from reckless overtaking and ensure their vehicle is roadworthy,” MEC cautioned.

MEC Mamabolo added that the Department has also entered into an agreement with Gerotek, a subsidiary of Armscor, to introduce advanced driving training in the taxi industry.

“This is the first step in our efforts to change driver behaviour on our roads. We have decided that the taxi industry, as a major people mover in our province, should lead the programme to reskill our drivers. We have come to a realisation that there are weaknesses in driver training and advanced driving is a major step towards improving the driving skills on our roads,” Mamabolo said.

In their message of support, SANTACO’s Midday Mali indicated that the association is “in full support of the road safety campaign” and thanked the Provincial Government for partnering with the taxi industry.

He added that the “association is embarking on a number of rank activations to reinforce the road safety messages to drivers”.

GNTA’s Thami Buthelezi shared Mali’s sentiments adding that they will encourage their drivers to take regular rests when driving long distances and ensure vehicles are roadworthy.