Sticker Project Promotes safer Vehicles and safer Journeys

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services officials are working hard to help ensure that festive season travellers get to their destinations safely.

The Department of Transport and Public Works runs its public transport compliance and fatigue management sticker project at least twice a year (during Easter and the December-January holiday period).

On 11 and 15 December 2015, traffic law enforcement officers conducted vehicle and driver fitness checks at the N1/ R300 Stellenberg off-ramp, on the N1 at Sonstraal near the Huguenot Tunnel, and at the Joostenberg Vlakte weighbridge.

A total of 810 public transport vehicles (buses and minibuses) were checked and 321 vehicles were found to be either unroadworthy or unlicensed or to be pulling trailers that were overloaded. Fines in the amount of R410 850 were issued.

Drivers of vehicles that were tested and found to be in good order were given a sticker to display on their windscreens to verify their vehicle’s fitness at the time the check was performed. This facilitates the work of traffic officers doing checks further en route as they work to help ensure that drivers do not overload their vehicles, speed, drink and drive, or drive when they are tired. Average Speed Over Distance technology assists officers to control speeding by measuring the time a vehicle takes to pass between two points.

Breakdown of public transport sticker operations

Overloading is common, especially over the Christmas period as travellers transport goods and gifts for friends and family. The Department and other road safety agencies work closely with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and other operator associations to make members aware of the national legal requirements for transporting passengers and their luggage safely.

The Department will conduct the next public transport sticker operation at various checkpoints on Friday, 18 December 2015 from 18:00. From Monday 21 December until 23 December, road safety officers will distribute fatigue management pamphlets at the Joe Gqabi transport interchange in Philippi.