SATAWU cautions road users as the Easter Holidays approaches

[Rea Molopyane]

 

SATAWU cautions road users as the Easter Holidays approaches

4 April 2012

 

The South African Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) acknowledges that while that while South Africa is notorious for its high accident rate, this is especially true in holiday periods. The expected increase in traffic over the Easter period often results in a higher than usual accident rate of accidents. We welcome of road safety initiatives currently being launched by the Department of Transport, particularly ahead of the Easter holidays. 

 

We call on all passenger operators to check their vehicles for road worthiness, not to overload and drive for long hours without rest. The Road Traffic Management Corporation ( RTMC) must adopt a zero tolerance of reckless Taxi’s that endangers not only the lives of the passenger they are transport but other road users as well.

 

We have always advocated for the use of 2 drivers per bus for long distance trips, through the Bargaining Council we have put pressure on the employers to ensure that they comply with The Human Factor Management Standards which promotes healthy lifestyles amongst transport workers and focuses on the management of human factors, including the perceptual, physical and mental capabilities of people

 

The same caution is send to employers in the Road Freight Industry where often workers are required to work ten times as hard because they are paid-per load. Satawu is strongly discouraging employers who use such tactics knowing well that their employees have no choice but to work if they want to put bread on the table. One of the biggest causes of road accidents on long-distances is fatigue and loss of concentration. We expect the employer to comply with our requirements that our members must be given enough time to rest.

 

SATAWU will continue to be a thorn on the side of the Transport Ministry SATAWU for as long as the government  fails to retain and introduce adequate measures to ensure that public transport is improved in the national interest. It is quite regrettable the working class are the ones who suffer the most when government fails to provide them with affordable, reliable and safe public transport.

 

Finally, to the South African public, we encourage drivers to behave in a manner that does not put their lives and others at risk. In order to acquire a driver’s license one is deemed as understanding the rules and regulations of our roads. According to South Africa’s Road Traffic Management Corporation, it is accepted that 95% or more road traffic accidents happen as a direct result of traffic offences or non-compliance with prescribed norms and standards.

 

We wish all travellers a safe journey happy Easter holidays.

 

 

Issued by SATAWU Secretariat

 

Inquiries:

Mamokgethi Rea Molopyane

SATAWU National Spokesperson

Cell: 082 395 0907

Landline: 011 333 6127

E-mail: r...@satawu.org.za

Twitter: @Reagoikanya