Media Alert: Activities to Promote Road Safety

Western Cape Minister for Community Safety Leonard Ramatlakane will be participating in activities aimed at intensifying the road safety campaign (Arrive Alive) during this year’s Easter weekend holidays.

Building on the success of the 2004 Easter weekend ( a record 63% decline in road fatalities), Minister Ramatlakane will officiate the delivery of eight ( 8) new state of the art traffic patrol vehicles that will be handed to Provincial traffic authorities tomorrow ( Thursday 24 March in Beaufort West @ 10:00am)

The new vehicles have been acquired by the National Department of Transport for the purpose of intensifying the campaign to reduce fatalities in South African roads.

Each of the vehicles have been fitted with road safety, emergency, communication and law enforcement equipment necessary to successfully undertake the road patrol operations.

Minister Ramatlakane commented on the new vehicles : “ This is a valuable acquisition. The vehicles will be able to even monitor moving violations on our roads, something that has been difficult to police hence the number of accidents. “

“They will also be useful and an effective and a visible deterrent to those who fail to drive responsibly on our roads. “ added Minister Ramatlakane

Minister Ramatlakane added that provincial traffic law enforcement agencies, the South African Police Services, and Bambanani Against Crime Traffic volunteers (120) will again be deployed on the roads starting from tonight.

“This partnership has made a huge difference on our roads during the 2004 Easter holidays in that they helped bring down fatalities by 63 % - an all time low record in the country. It is therefore critical for motorists who will be using our roads going to different parts of the country , to also drive carefully and responsibly and thus help us make our roads safer to travel” said Minister Ramatlakane

“We can only count on every motorist to support us in this campaign. Once again I want to appeal to our motorists taking the roads during this short holiday to plan your journey properly, rest in between your journey. They should also refrain from speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol. “

For media enquiries

Makhaya Mani
Media Liaison
Ministry of Community Safety
Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 3873
Cell: 082 780 4493