Become a traffic officer

The Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, has urged the youth to apply for jobs as traffic officers to increase the number of those already manning the roads.

Announcing this at a recent outreach campaign of the Road Accident Fund in Alexandra, during transport month, Peters said 1 300 new recruits are needed for 2015 to increase the current 17 000 officers in service.

She said the recruitment is government’s contribution to employment generation and it will not only increase the capacity of the department to monitor 17 million motor vehicles on the roads, but will also promote the safety of pedestrians.

The recruits and those in service will receive training to reorient them against corrupt practices like accepting motorists’ bribes. She also admonished the public for perpetuating corruption by paying bribes, instead of curbing the practice by reporting transgressing officers.

Peters further encouraged the inclusion of traffic safety education for all children in schools. “This will help develop a positive mind set from a young age so they can be responsible drivers on the roads. She asked traffic officers to volunteer for this education in schools.

With driving schools selling illegal licences, Peters added her department was exploring ways of ensuring that driving schools improve the quality of their driving lessons. Her department also aims to reduce road related fatalities by half by 2020.

Peters handed out shoes and reflective vests from the fund to Ekukhanyisweni Primary School pupils involved in the scholar patrol programme.