Pretoria - Women law-enforcement officers are set to take over the streets of the city this month in an effort to reduce road crashes and raise awareness about road safety.
Road Traffic Management Corporation officers have planned a number of high-impact law enforcement operations in which all-women teams will be deployed at notorious high accident routes as part of celebrating Women’s Month.
Operating under the theme “Refihlile” - We have Arrived - women officers have undertaken to show no mercy for lawlessness on the roads this month and beyond.
“No offence will be too big or small for us!” said National Traffic Police chief Ntsiki Jolingana. “We are equal to the task.”
The operations will be conducted by the National Traffic Police in collaboration with the SAPS, provincial traffic departments, metro traffic police, Home Affairs and other stakeholders.
Statistics indicate that at least 40 people die daily in South Africa due to road crashes. The high number of crashes can be attributed to excessive speed, unsafe overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol and unsafe crossings by pedestrians.
Unroadworthy passenger vehicles such as minibuses, buses and light delivery vans used to ferry pupils to and from schools are a major concern. This has warranted the women of the National Traffic Police to try a different strategy to cut the road carnage.
Child safety
Jolingana said focus would be placed on child safety by insisting that younger children be placed in child restraints while older ones must be using seat belts.
“The death of innocent children due to the negligence of their parents, who themselves are fastening seatbelts, is not acceptable,” she said. “The fine we may issue for not restraining your child is nothing compared to the life of that child.”
In August 2015 the NTP-led women officers stopped and checked more than 9000 vehicles; they took 60 unroadworthy vehicles off the road, issued 150 summonses and arrested 23 people for various offences, including possession of dagga, driving without valid documentation and speeding.
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