The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management said it is on high alert to enforce compliance on the province’s roads during the Youth Day long weekend.
This emerged during the launch of an integrated joint law enforcement operation that was led by the National Transport Department alongside various partners in Potchefstroom, N12 route. MEC Wessels Morweng urged motorists and road users to be responsible and vigilant.
“We also have operations of this nature across our four regions. We have partnered with the municipalities to make sure we are visible because the visibility has proven beyond reasonable doubt that when our traffic officials are visible, the road user’s behaviour tends to change. The research shows us that accidents are happening because of road user’s behaviour. So, we will make sure that we demonstrate visibility across all our roadblocks,” said Morweng during a media briefing.
He sent a stern warning to the youth to be responsible and avoid drinking and driving.
According to the Department’s Minister, Barbara Creecy, June records the highest number of road fatalities.
“We are conducting the road safety operation in the month of June, because June historically has been one of the very unfortunate months, on average having a fatality rate of almost 1 000 people. Last year, 231 people lost their lives over the Youth Day weekend. What we understand is that one of the reasons June is a very dangerous month on the roads is that it’s the month with the longest period of darkness. In many provinces of our country, by 5 pm it’s already starting to get dark in the afternoon. It doesn’t get light before 6:30 am,” Creecy explained.
In addition, MEC Morweng highlighted that this long-weekend’s operations will also be used to confiscate illicit items such as drugs or illegal guns amongst others.
Travellers are encouraged to adhere to weather warnings, obey traffic laws and ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles.
