The end of the year is in sight, with the festive season beginning in a matter of weeks. After months of lockdown, South Africans are looking forward to unwinding and enjoying the upcoming holidays.
However, the holiday season brings about a new set of concerns and issues. The main concern is that of road fatalities. With this in mind, the Newcastle Municipality’s Department of Community Safety in partnership with the local Taxi Association, EMRS, SAPS, RTI and ER24, officially launched the 2020 October transport month campaign.
Transport Month is an annual feature on the calendar of the Department of Transport. It is one of several platforms through which the department engages directly with its stakeholders.
The department also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of transport in the economy, to invite civic society and business to participate in providing a safer, more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system for the country.
This is an annual event, which is run nationally. This year’s campaign runs under the theme, Together Shaping the Future of Transport.
With the campaign officially kicking off on Wednesday, 14 October 2020, traffic officials, police and other emergency personnel met at the Allen Street and N11 Intersection by Hilldrop.
Holding a roadblock, conducting both a vehicle and driver check, while interacting with motorists, traffic officials were joined by Newcastle Mayor Cllr Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba.
Emphasising the importance of the initiative, Cllr Dr Mahlaba highlighted the importance of educating motorists on their behaviour.
He explains, “Let us make sure this is not about just giving fines, but about education. If you just give a person a fine, they will pay it and continue as before. But if you educate an individual, we will be able to see a change in behaviour.”
Cllr Dr Mahlaba stresses that a change of behaviour is vital, especially with the festive season insight. He elaborates, “The festive season starts in three weeks and not the day before Christmas.”
With the purpose of the initiative to educate motorists in a bid to minimise road accidents, officials and motorists found themselves working towards a common goal. A goal which involves a joyous festive season, and does not include families mourning the loss of a loved one.
Author: Quinton Boucher
Edited: Calvin Swemmer
