SATAWU statement on road accidents and road safety

[Rea Molopyane]

 

SATAWU statement on road accidents and road safety

4 January 2012

 

The South African Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) has noted with serious concern the road statistics and especially the number of fatal accidents that occurred during the December period. The preliminary reports says at least 1232 people have been killed on South African roads since the beginning of the festive season.  Such a high number is unacceptable. We cannot have more years in this country where so many people have their lives ended, not by what they do but by what other people do that impacts on them.

 

We have seen a spate of horror crashes across the country in the past few weeks. All this despite the most vigorous and stern warnings from our traffic authorities and the Department of Transport of zero tolerance and the full might of the law which seem to challenge the aggressiveness of our drivers. 

SATAWU appeals to our traffic authorities, government agencies and the National Department of Transport to take a break from what is very clearly not working and to go out on another tack altogether that will see them tackling this growing national crisis. This must stop because it can be stopped! Doesn't the National Department of Transport realise something is drastically wrong with their current approach and management of national road safety?

 

These ugly road accidents in our province once more highlight the need for safer, affordable and efficient public transport. SATAWU continues to call on the government 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.

 

We call upon all law enforcement agencies including Traffic Officers, the SAPS and RTMC to work together to strengthen the objectives of visible policing and improving on road safety. The three major focus areas - unroadworthy vehicles, speeding and overloading – are at the very core of deaths on our roads.

 

We have watched every Easter and December, as fatal and serious road crashes take centre stage, year in and year out. The message is the same, surely we need a different approach to this problem. "We need a culture in this country where lawlessness on our roads is no longer accepted. Where we, as a nation, say to the drivers who break the rules: We do not accept behaviour which endangers our lives.” said Zenzo Mahlangu,  SATAWU General Secretary

 

Road deaths are a national disaster for this country. We call on Minister Ndebele to "get tough" with his department and review strategies to reduce road deaths.

 

Contact:

Mamokgethi Rea Molopyane

SATAWU National Spokesperson

Cell: 082 395 0907

Landline: 011 333 6127

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

Twitter: @Reagoikanya