Similarly, the acts of road rage is taking the law into your own hands and renders you no different from a criminal.

This is according to Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, who launched the annual  Festive Season Road Safety Campaign in Caleb Motshabi Phase 7 in Bloemfontein on Monday. Mbalula says this is also going to be a very challenging time for Law Enforcement officials as different challenges will occur during this festive season on roads.

He says the plan is to enhance coordination, safety awareness and law enforcement integration. Mbalula says the department has established that alcohol is a factor in 27% of fatal accidents in the country. Therefore, drunk driving operations will be a top priority to improve safety on the roads. He says motorists driving under the influence of alcohol remain a challenge.

Mbalula urged road users to wear seatbelts, as statistics show that the risk of fatalities are reduced when seatbelts are used.

He says statistics from previous festive seasons' campaigns show that pedestrians are the most vulnerable road user group in South Africa. In total, 41% of fatalities on our roads are pedestrians.

"We're not doing it for the love of it, but for the safety of our nation. Our National Anti–Corruption Unit will be hard at work, uprooting this cancer that undermines our efforts to uphold the rule of law on our roads," says Mbalula.

"Reckless behaviour on the road and driving under the influence of alcohol is a deliberate act of placing the lives of others in harm’s way. Similarly, the acts of road rage is taking the law into your own hands and renders you no different from a criminal," he adds.

OFM News