Cobus Coetzee
THE provincial government is to reward two lucky motorists with R25 000 each if they don’t get any traffic fines between them during the festive season.
“We want to send a message of solidarity to the good guy for keeping to the rules of the road, and not to those who drive like a lunatic,” said Transport and Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle.
Carlisle said he wanted to make a big show of it when they draw the two winners on December 24 and January 7.
On the two days, his department plans to draw six numbers from a bag, after which the eNaTIS traffic management system will be searched for engine numbers that match these numbers.
All the vehicles must be registered in the Western Cape. “A simple check will be done to see if the vehicle or the owner received a traffic fine between December 17 and the two respective draw dates,” said Carlisle. His department will also check if there are outstanding warrants, the person’s address on the eNaTIS system is correct and all their licence fees are up to date.
“It will be a fair process and only after all of that will we have the name of the person who won the prize,” he said.
Carlisle said the prize money will come from the provincial coffers that taxpayers contributed to.
“Money obviously motivates people and we believe government can influence people’s behaviour,” said Carlisle.
The cash rewards form part of the province’s “Safely Home” road safety campaign.
The 89 people killed on the Western Cape Roads this month is an increase of 35 percent over this period last year.
“These figures are very alarming. Lives are now being lost on our roads at a rate of five people a day, and will continue to do so if some drivers persist with treating the rules of the road with such serious disregard,” Carlisle said.