INSLA

MEC Robin Carlisle. Photo: Ross Jansen

Kwanele Butana

ROAD deaths in the Western Cape have dropped by 6 percent over the festive season compared to the previous year.

Transport and Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle said 243 people died in road-related accidents compared to the previous year’s figure of 259.

Carlisle, who in 2009 set the target of bringing down the road deaths by 50 percent, announced a 24 percent reduction in road fatalities since the end of 2008 yesterday.

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I am disappointed that the reduction was not greater, but we have learned valuable lessons for the future, particularly in respect of long distance minibus taxi traffic,” said Carlisle.

Twice as many roadblocks were held over the two-month period from December 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012.

This amounted to 483 roadblocks, with 161 989 vehicles being pulled over.

“A total of 3 250 long distance public transport drivers were forced to rest for up to four hours as part of fatigue management on the N1 route to the Eastern Cape,” he said.

Carlisle went on to say that while 1 739 people died on the province’s roads in 2008, the figure had gradually dropped to 1 567 in 2009, 1 487 in 2010 and 1 321 last year.

“This means that through the efforts of our Safely Home Team and our road safety partners, including many motorists, we have saved the lives of 839 people,” he said.

The statistics come from the Forensic Pathology Services.

Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) secretary Mzoxolo Dibela agreed with Carlisle that road deaths had dropped and attributed the drop to Operation Hlokomela.

The Operation Hlokomela campaign was launched throughout the country in November 2010 as part of the national taxi council’s underlying aim of improving the safety of taxi commuters.

Dibela said during the festive season, Codeta checked their buses and minibuses to see if they were suitable for travelling long distances and removed the ones found to be unroadworthy.

“Members of our association should be workshopped about the dangers of speeding and fatigue as these were major causes of road accidents,” he said.

“Workshops to educate our passengers should be run as well because they often put drivers under pressure to speed and not take breaks from driving in order for them to reach their destinations on time.”

kwanele.butana@inl.co.za