Road crashes in the Overberg District can be reduced over the holiday period and families can have a happy festive season if we all work together. This was the key message that emerged from the Overberg District Safety Plan (DSP) festive season launch in Caledon today, 9 December 2016.
The DSP is an integrated enforcement, education and engineering plan which responds to all the elements that can contribute to road safety in the Caledon Traffic Centre operational area.
The pilot is supported by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW), the Cape Agulhas, Theewaterskloof and Overstrand municipalities, and the South African Police Service Overberg Cluster. It aims to reduce overall fatalities by 33%, and child fatalities by 50%, by 2020.
At the launch, equipment was handed over the various stakeholders for use in traffic safety operations. A planned integrated roadblock and various road safety awareness activities had to be cancelled due to rainy weather.
Donald Lakey, DTPW Director: Traffic Law Enforcement, said poor driver behaviour and inattentive pedestrians are some of the key challenges in Overberg. “We also have to deal with the transportation of abalone and narcotic drugs, illegal fruit sellers on highways, and walking and driving under the influence of alcohol. We hope our interventions will yield positive results. However, without the support of Overberg residents and visitors, we will not achieve much,” he said.
The operational focus will be on:
A number of road safety and traffic law enforcement activities in the DSP commenced on 1 October 2016 and will run until 31 March next year. These will include the broadcasting of radio advertisements and activities linked with the monthly Safely Home calendar road safety themes.
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