Road Safety is everyone’s business. During the festive season, thousands of lives are lost on the country’s roads due to among others reckless and/or negligent driving and fatigue. One of the main focus areas of policing during this period is to ensure that the rules of the road are obeyed at all times and that holiday makers are and feel safe. During this time of the year, the SAPS, law enforcement agencies and emergency services are kept busy attending to serious and fatal accidents on the National and residential roads.
On Saturday, 16 November 2019, an integrated crime awareness campaign focusing solely on accidents and rescue operations took place at St Albans in Greenbushes. The awareness not only concentrated on road accidents but also on sea accidents. It is a known fact that thousands of revellers flock to the beaches during Christmas and the New Year. Many children are left on their own to swim and play in the surf or swimming pools. Another common cause of drowning is when people swim when under the influence of alcohol.
The day started off at 08:00 with a motorcade comprising of private companies, bikers, Metro Police, Traffic Police, the Nelson Mandela Bay Fire and Emergency Services (medical) with their helicopter, Department of Health (forensics) and the SAPS drove from Kings Beach to Greenbushes. The main sponsors of the event SSS Advance Driving School welcomed the participation of every role-player. Mock displays were demonstrated by the SAPS Diving Unit, Metro and Traffic Police (taxi overloading and the Fire and Emergency Services (rescue operations).
These demonstrations most definitely was an ‘eye opener’ to all who attended. The attendees were alarmed at the speed in which the rescue operations were conducted in order to save lives. Each department pledged their commitment to ensuring safety on roads and water during this festive period.
Members of the public were urged to ensure compliance with road safety speed limits and the general rules of the road. They were also warned to buckle up and never to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Normal speed limits meets every need.
The road/water safety awareness campaign was very informative and the public was made aware of the consequences of reckless behaviour. Therefore, they were given the choice of ‘prepare and prevent instead of repair and repent.’
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South Africa Today – Accidents
.jpg "Multiple people were injured in a taxi collision on Robert Sobukwe Drive")
