The MEC of Transport, safety and Liaison; Mr Patrick Mabilo warns motorists that they must expect tough Law Enforcement from our Traffic and Police officials throughout the Easter Holiday, which starts from Thursday,28 March 2013 to Monday,01 April 2013.

“We call on all road users to be Responsible and Save Lives!”

‘Don’t be a Menace to Society”

This is not an option, but a must for the road users. Year in year-out many people lose their lives, through negligence, carelessness and disregard for the safety and security of other road users. This must come to a complete stop!

We have a serious commitment this year around; that we must reduce road fatalities in our Province, especially at the Hot Spots; like Barkly west Junction, N12, N1 and other hazardous locations in the Province.

Too many lives are lost; too many innocent victims are injured. This can be avoided, this must be afforded, and all must take precautionary measures to contribute to a drastic reduction of road fatalities this Easter Weekend and beyond.

We also encourage road users, to be focused, alert and avoid quarrels that will lead to road carnage; which is a serious threat to road tensions and fights.

As we approach the Easter Holidays, The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison urge all communities in the Northern Cape Province to obey the rules of the road when travelling to various destinations as part of maintaining their safety.

“The Easter weekend programme is not implemented in isolation, but form part of an on-going programme of campaign, that the Department and it’s agencies carried-out in conjunction with key transport stakeholders and the public on ensuring that lives are saved through a continued effort of spreading the message of road safety of which is in-line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.”

As part of the Arrive Alive campaign, Law Enforcement agencies in the Province will be out in full force along major arterial routes and identified hazardous locations.

Law Enforcement operations will be conducted across the province with a strong focus on alcohol, speeding, overloading, vehicle and driver fitness and critically pedestrians' safety.

Our approach on this campaign reflects that motorists must expect tougher law enforcement on our roads. There will be no compromise as a number of law enforcement operations during Easter holidays; we declare the year 2013 with a theme:

“BE RESPONSIBLE, SAFE LIVES”

During this period, we expect our officers to:

Conduct high visibility patrols.
Provide an efficient emergency response to road users.
Provide traffic law enforcement and traffic control.

As the MEC, I convey my deepest appreciation to all those men and women in uniform who always spend holiday periods working to safeguard our safety on the road. We remain indebted to our enforcement officers, emergency services and health personnel for being there for us, for the sacrifices they make in the interest of our safety, not only during these hectic times in our calendar, but on a daily basis.

In honour of the fallen road victims in Colesburg last month, special programme will be held in the area after Easter.

We appeal to all the road users to be careful as they undertake their travelling and must ensure they reach their destination still alive.

“Lets Safe Lives- Lets be Responsible”

For Enquiries please contact: Mr.Lebogang Majaha

Media Liaison Officer

079 6479 635

Issued by: Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.