Road Safety and the Festive Season

Prepared and Presented by the Traffic Department of the City of uMhlathuze Public Safety and Security Section

Understanding ‘Road Safety’• ‘Road Safety’- term or phrase- various meanings• Road Safety refers to all the actions that may be undertaken by

a person, group or class of persons calculated at reducing the risk of a road user being involved in an accident , injured or getting killed .

• Clearly- RS is everyone’s responsibility

Understanding the Road Traffic System (RTS)Three Elements:1. The Vehicle;2. The road and environment; and 3. The road user

Proper interaction between these components is very important.

The Vehicle Element in the RTS

Refers to-Vehicles such as:• Trucks, bakkies, SUVs, sedans• Motorcycles, tricycles, bicycles etc.

The Road and Environment Element

Refers to-• Road infrastructure, furniture (signs & road markings), road

design and the road network• Manner of road usage • Road traffic patterns and congestions• layout of intersections and railway crossings

The Road User • Drivers and Passengers• Pedestrians • Cyclists

Interaction between the Components• The Vehicle;• The road and environment; and • The road user

One or a combination of these elements fail to interact properly, accidents result.

A Cause and a Consequence• Accident cause an injury or even death (a cause)• Accidents are often a result of failure to abide by the rules of

the road • Traffic laws are intently promulgated for the very purpose of

road safety. (consequence).• Logically- could stop actions that violate traffic laws-could

reduce the number of accidents

Controlling the Consequence• Unable to control what happens after the moment of the

crash because then vehicles veer out of control• we can limit the incidence of crashes as results of action that

is non-compliant with the traffic rules

Driver’s Attitudes-A Stumbling Block• Driver’s attitudes -potentially dangerous-easily lead to actions

that undermine road safety.• Attitudes-manifest in different ways incl. spinning tyres, over-

revving the engine, drag racing illegally on public roads, slowing down towards a speed camera point and speeding after passing the officers or the camera point, etc.

Is it really helping a fellow man?• Humans are inclined to help each other but is it helping

another to warn others of a speed trap ahead or to help others get traffic warnings from social networks alerting of traffic officer roadblocks?

• Sure?- because a traffic offence is not committed against an individual but against the people of South Africa

• It’s society that does not want to see the speedster get away scot-free, a driver not wearing a seatbelt, popping a wheelie and certainly does not want a driver to avoid a roadblock which might perhaps discover the unfitness of the vehicle he or she drives

Everyone's Responsibility• Accidents are no respecter of persons• They occur any where, anytime and to anybody• Anyone can be involved and many at a times so• One accident may affect multiple families• Accidents can burn humans to death• Accidents take anybody’s life including that of infants. We may

not always be directly affected by every accident but as humans we will always have an interest in the occurrence of accidents.

No Respecter of Persons

Reality-The Ultimate Price?

The South African Challenge• In 2010/11 -13 802 -died on our roads• Currently at an alarming rate of about 14 000 per year.• Various challenges relating to a fragmented road traffic

management system country-wide. Contributes to the high national accident rate.

• Not strange-RTMC established- responsibility to co-ordinate traffic matters across the country. This objective- still a work in progress.

Accidents- A Global Challenge• Accidents- countries in the world• Continue efforts-overcome the problem of unsafety • WHO- 1.2 million -every year. As many as 50 million -injured or

disabled by crashes.• Cost govts up to 4% of their GDPs

The UN Stepped In• Declared a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 (2010)• This is a global plan for the World to reduce road crashes by

50% by year 2020• For SA Half of appr. 13 802- 2010/2011 •All countries-the challenge of achieving this target by the dawn of new year’s day in 2020

The Four E’s• The proverbial four E’s of road safety (Education, Engineering,

Enforcement and Evaluation) -approach-encompassed-‘pillars approach’

• The 4 Es revised into three E’s.

Making Road Safety ManageableFive Pillars of Road Safety- breakdown elephant

Road Safety by the Pillars Approach1. Pillar One – ‘Road Safety Management’ Deals with-devising road safety strategies, monitoring and evaluating road safety targets, crash information management system etc.

Second Pillar

2. ‘Safer Roads and Mobility’Deals with- international road assessment programs, Road safety audits , road safety engineering, identification and management of crash hotspots etc.

Third Pillar

3. ‘Safer Vehicles’Covers- safety in vehicles and their usage, car assessment programmes, periodic vehicle testing, focus of law enforcement on fitness of vehicles etc.

Fourth Pillar

4. ‘Safer Road Users’Deals- Road Safety Education, law enforcement and policing of various traffic transgressions and other moving violations such as reckless or negligent driving, speeding, drunken driving and handling a cell phone whilst driving etc.

Fifth Pillar

5. ‘Post-crash Responses’Covers- Road Incident Management System (RIMS), Incident information database, collection of accident data, road safety evaluations etc.

Vulnerable Road UsersSA’s Accident Stats1. 80 % of fatalities-adult males- 19 and 34 2. Driver’s -25 and 34 -most susceptible-driving inexperience)3. Female passengers in public transport -vulnerable4. Cyclists, motorists and pedestrians particularly children most

vulnerable The vulnerable road user-always-second best-crash situation

Road Safety in SA during the Festive Period• October-declared transport month• The Minister: Dipuo Peters-theme as ‘Together we move

South Africa Forward’• Also announced-SA has committed to achieving the 50%

reduction of crashes by 2020. • The NDoT aims to achieve this target by implementing a 3-6-5

days road safety program focussing on Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation (four E’s).

What causes Accidents?• As stated above,• Accidents-result of the inco-ordinate interaction -road traffic

system• If one fails to interact properly with the other two-accidents

result.• But what influences the emergence of crashes?

Top Five Contributory Factors• High Speeds• Abuse of Alcohol• Dangerous Overtaking• Vehicle (un)fitness• Pedestrian negligence

Our Response this Festive Season• This festive season- the traffic officers of the City of uMhlathuze as a

dept will through the planned operations focus on the Safer Vehicles (Pillar 3) and Safer Road Users (Pillar 4) in response to the factors that contribute to accidents.

• Please help us achieve this. You can do it by making it possible for the traffic officers to do their work in a manner that enhances safety

The Festive Season Enforcement PlanThroughout - The Traffic Dept will:1. Set up speed-detecting devices, arrest all speedsters detected by

the machines and issue other offenders with notices to appear before court.

2. Several alco-roadblocks have been planned for execution during this period. Motorists will be randomly breathalysed and offenders will be arrested at once.

3. Scheduled Visibility Patrols have also been planned and visibility of officers will deter criminal activities. Officers on patrol will also deal with moving violations and monitor traffic congestions. patrols.

4. Multi-disciplinary roadblocks in collaboration with the SAPS and RTI and blitzes have been planned for execution during this period

5. Scholar patrols and child in traffic program continue as usual and will be suspended once schools close in December.

The Beach Festival Plan• The plans to address challenges during the festive period have been

finalized by the Traffic Department.• The plan- currently being shared -other stakeholders incl. the SAPS

and other security services in order to finalize the Consolidated Beach Plan.

• Despite -increased workload & influx of beach patrons -deter officers - to speeding, drunken driving and roadworthiness as planned.

Stop Drivers from Endangering other People’s lives. How?

• We can - limit risk of danger -enforcing compliance with traffic laws through govt authorities (SAPS, RTI and Municipal Traffic)

• We can- reduce- risk of road crashes by means of road safety education. Here - you can also contribute.

A Traffic Officer-Friend or Foe?• Traffic officers are fellow men and women who through their

various duties contribute daily and positively towards reducing carnage on our roads

• They continually try to make our roads safe and accessible.• Officers help keep out of your way the dangerous driver who

could kill you or your loved one. This is their sacrifice for you and the country.

A friend of the Community• Isn't it time- all made an effort of appreciating & encouraging

the traffic officers resolve of reducing accidents• Teach our children that officers are our helpers and that they

must love and respect them and not call them names?• Obviously the corrupt individuals must be reported but

reporting crime isn't always enough. Sometimes we must be prepared to testify against the bribee or corruptee if a bribery or corruption has taken place.

• That way we can influence a positive change of attitudes on our roads and improve road safety.

Road Safety Education• Remember: • Road Safety is everyone's responsibility • Throughout the year- Traff. Dept. conducts safety talks in

schools and it has already planned to widen its scope in this regard

• A child in traffic program is used by the department as a tool to teach young children about road safety at schools. This will continue until the schools close in December.

Our Message to Offenders• If you are planning on going out drinking tonight so are we, • But we will be sober and armed with our breathalysers and

handcuffs.• If driving whilst under the influence of alcohol we know where

to find you.

Our Message to You• Lets join hands in making everybody safe on our roads. After

all its everyone's responsibility• By sharing a message of safety on roads and compliance with

traffic rules you can help us reduce carnage on our roads• Don’t be against us. Be on our side and together we can

overcome this scourge.• Embrace Road Safety Education by undertaking to address at

least two people ( a child and an adult friend) on at least one aspect of road safety be it wearing a seatbelt or discouraging revving of engines and spinning of tyres.

Message for Travellers• Prepare for the journey ahead in time.• Do a routine check on the vehicle for fitness to be used on the

road• Don’t overload vehicles. • Watch your speed all the way and don’t exceed maximum

limits• Remember to rest on long journeys• Have a safe journey

Thank You

Have a Great Christmas!