Road safety campaigns take to the streets for Easter holidays

Road safety campaigns are rolling out countrywide as many are expected to take to the roads during the Easter holidays.

On Thursday, ER24 Emergency Medical Services shared some photographs of ER24 and Arrive Alive who were standing by on the N4 in Rustenburg for the Easter safety campaign.

https://twitter.com/ER24EMS/status/849926798351663108

In the spirit of keeping motorists safe on the roads, the City of Cape Town is offering free vehicle checks.

Free vehicle checks signal start of City’s Easter road safety plan https://t.co/elV3wIGSFX pic.twitter.com/3Ag4zw3yQL

— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) April 5, 2017

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the City of Cape Town said these vehicle checks were part of a multipronged plan by the City’s Safety and Security Directorate to contribute to road safety efforts during both the school holidays and Easter weekend.

“From an enforcement perspective, the City’s traffic service, metro police and law enforcement departments will implement the festive season safety blueprint which includes visible policing, ad hoc vehicle checkpoints, and roadblocks in association with the South African Police Service and provincial traffic service,” said the City.

“Driver behaviour and vehicle fitness are two crucial elements in ensuring road safety.”

The City’s vehicle testing centres were making free vehicle checks available from 8am to 2pm daily until April 7 at various places in the city.

Operation Exodus, which “focuses on driver and vehicle fitness in the long-distance public transport sector”, will be launched on Friday until next Thursday.

SAPS road safety tips for Easter Holidays 2017 https://t.co/9jmBEJVibq #ArriveAlive @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/Z4U63aLVpq

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 6, 2017

The Boksburg Advertiser further reported that, according to Arrive Alive, failure to attend to tyre safety was a vital factor in thousands of road accidents every year.

Furthermore, research by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research indicated that nearly 20 percent of accidents involving minibuses have tyre failure as a contributing factor.

Stacey Davidson, director at Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa), said there are small habits that motorists can adopt to help remain safe on the roads. These include checking tyres regularly for punctures, cuts and bulges.

“You also need to take extra care when travelling during the holiday period because of increased traffic volumes, congestion, fatigue and people driving in unfamiliar environments,” said Davidson.

“It is important to be courteous and to take frequent breaks when driving long distances.”

Davidson believes that improving driving habits and tyre maintenance would go a long way towards saving lives during the Easter period.

“Well-maintained tyres will hold your vehicle securely on the road, allowing it to stop, start and manoeuvre safely.”

ER24 further shared holiday safety tips on Twitter. Some of these can be seen below:

https://twitter.com/ER24EMS/status/849513230502436865

https://twitter.com/ER24EMS/status/849155868058845184

https://twitter.com/ER24EMS/status/849558543749574656

https://twitter.com/ER24EMS/status/849878117216899072

While the City of Joburg also shared this advice on Twitter:

Keep to the speed limit this Easter, the beach won't run away from you… #EasterRoadSafety #ArriveAlive ^NS pic.twitter.com/QMl4BEbe7M

— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) April 6, 2017

And, the City of Ekurhuleni posted the following tips on its Facebook page:

On Thursday morning, the Road Accident Fund – which inspired the public to share their life stories with the motto that everyone’s life matters and everyone has a story to tell during the festive season – tweeted that they were praying for road safety in Mookgopong, Limpopo.

Praying for #RoadSafety this #EasterHolidays in Mokgoopong-Limpopo with the @DoTransport Deputy Minister @SindiChikunga #WeCare pic.twitter.com/x7pN5DXZqw

— The Road Accident Fund (@RAF_SA) April 6, 2017

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