The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa undertook the Road Safety Campaign In Gqeberha within the Eastern Cape on Sunday, the 13th of April.
The minister said this campaign is a collaborative effort to bring together multiple road safety stakeholders to enhance law enforcement visibility, reduce traffic violations, and ensure road deaths are minimized during the Easter weekend and beyond.
"We have arrived in the Eastern Cape because this specific region, along with Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and Limpopo, accounts for over 76% of road accidents and fatalities," stated Creecy.
The minister said during a livestream on Facebook that severe crashes and deaths mostly happen on Friday and Saturday evenings. The department aims to boost police presence, especially later at night and into the early hours of the morning when reckless driving and poor driver conduct are common occurrences.
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The Deputy Minister Hlengwa informed the press that consuming alcohol before driving continues to be a serious issue, notably during the period from 7 pm to 1 am. He highlighted that this behaviour poses substantial danger, particularly during these times when motorists might be fatigued or still under the influence of celebrations. Additionally, he mentioned that people walking in unauthorized zones after dark further disturb vehicular movement and heighten the likelihood of collisions on the roads.
During an interview with SABC News, Creecy disclosed that their initiative led to inspecting over 80,000 vehicles and resulted in arresting more than 250 individuals for exceeding the permissible alcohol level while operating a vehicle.
"In nearly every case where we impounded a vehicle from the roadside, there was some issue. For example, someone didn’t possess a driver’s license, or the car wasn’t properly registered," stated Creecy.
She mentioned that 80% of all accidents nationwide result from human mistakes, which encompass behaviors like overspeeding, drunk driving, and using one’s phone behind the wheel.
“There are also the other things which are a contributing factor such as the usage of cellphones behind the steering wheel, particularly for content creation, which is a behaviour done by both the drivers and the passenger who interrupts the driver wanting to take pictures for vacation and all sorts of other things.
"It may seem adorable, sure, but that brief five-second distraction when using a phone at the wheel adversely affects your reaction time to environmental changes, making the use of phones while driving quite concerning," stated Hlengwa.
Hlengwa urged collaboration between road users, drivers, and law enforcement agencies to enhance road safety. He emphasized that vehicle owners should make sure their cars meet all standards of roadworthiness prior to operation.
The Eastern Cape Minister responsible for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, disclosed that over 200 individuals lost their lives due to human actions during the previous year's Easter holiday season. Nqatha expressed appreciation for the minister's endeavors aimed at enhancing safety within the province.
Creecy mentioned that they are prepared for the Easter holidays, noting their presence throughout the nation via various operational centers. They have also worked alongside police departments to set up initiatives aimed at monitoring road traffic, ensuring safer journeys during this period.
Creecy additionally encouraged those embarking on lengthy journeys to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and steer clear of driving during night hours as well as avoiding excessive speed.