During her speech at the launch, Deputy Minister of Transport, Dikeledi Magadzi, said this Easter will see increased volumes of road users on South African roads and across borders with neighbouring countries, as citizens and tourists use this period to engage in social, cultural and religious activities. 

Magadzi urged road users to adhere to health protocols and deliver the same effort towards adhering to the rules of the road.

Magadzi says, as the country gears up for the Easter period, it is important to once more highlight the significance of road safety. “Our roads are meant to enable access to both economic activities as well as social infrastructure and amenities. However, many lives are lost because of reckless conduct by those who choose to undermine the rights of others with their conduct.

"It is truly tragic that the majority of those whose lives are lost during the Easter period, are the pedestrian youth between the ages of 20 and 34 years.”

The 4-day Easter weekend is a period where we lose no less than 230 lives each year. “In 2020, despite the hard lockdown and travel restrictions, 38 people lost their lives. It is important for us to take note that the majority of fatal crashes occur at night. More than 70% of the hit and runs happen at night. We encourage road users to avoid travelling at night, not only to observe the curfew hours, but also keep safe from the hazards that are mostly prevalent at night,” she adds.

Magadzi further says, through collaborative effort, they can find new and creative ways to make decisive interventions in this regard. “We simply cannot continue using the same tactics that have not worked in the past, hoping to achieve different results. Let us embrace the opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution and leverage on the new frontiers technology has presented to fight this cancer of reckless conduct that results in the loss of life and limb on our roads.

"As we launch the 2021 Easter Road Safety Campaign, we do so under the shadow of a dark cloud, which is a stark reminder of why we should redouble our efforts to arrest the carnage on our roads,” she concludes.  

The spokesperson at the Ministry of Transport, Ayanda Paine, in a release said the corporation has taken a giant leap towards reinventing law enforcement by introducing a lasting solution to many law enforcement problems in the form of a body-worn camera to be used by officers. “The use of e-enforcement will not only bring about much-needed relief to the fraternity but will also enhance road safety for all road users, especially motorists. The body-worn camera will be a useful tool in dealing with the high levels of bribery incidents by providing a factual account of events."

OFM News/Blaine Jones