Traffic officers get new wheels

Police, traffic officers and the taxi industry met to plot ways of improving road safety and reducing deaths

Free State police, roads and transport MEC, Butana Komphela, officially launched the transport month by handing out 20 motor vehicles to ensure road safety by increasing law enforcement visibility throughout the province.

The month of October was declared transport month by the Transport Lekgotla in 2005. It is a month during which the department raises awareness on the important role of transport in the economy of the province. During this month, the department also solicits cooperation of civil society and business to provide a safer, more affordable, efficient, accessible and reliable transport system.

The transport month campaign is an annual feature on the calendar of the department of Transport and is one the platforms and vehicles through which the department engages directly with its stakeholders.

The law enforcement unit, which ensures that the public transportation is safe for commuters in the province, was boosted with five vehicles while the traffic unit had a boost of 15 sedan motor cars during the launch of the traffic month last week.

During the launch, Komphela expressed concern at the high number of deaths that take place on the N8 road, and promised that this highway was going to be the department’s focal point during the transport month.

The head of the department, Sandile Msibi said the department was celebrating 20 years of delivering efficient, reliable and safe transport services. He said the transport month gives motorists the opportunity to reflect on their behaviour on the road and observes traffic rules.

“Commuters have a right to say ‘no’ to unroadworthy vehicles; drivers must always drive within the speed limits and those who choose not to abide by the law will face the music. One death is one too many on our roads and we all have to ensure that we curb the road carnages.”

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Simon Mpembe, echoed Komphela’s vision of ensuring cooperation between police and traffic officers during the transport month to crack down of motorists who violate traffic laws and criminals who the roads to commit crimes or transport proceeds of crime.

Mpembe promised high police visibility so that people feel safe all the time. He urged drivers to exercise patience on the roads so that everyone arrives safely to their destinations.

The chairperson of provincial taxi council, Darkie Qumbu, promised that the council will ensure taxi drivers obey the rules of the road and support the department’s vision of reducing road carnages.

Qumbu said most road accident victims perish in public transport vehicles such as taxis and busses mainly due to driver fatigue.