First Easter roadblock kicks off

With the Easter weekend fast approaching, AbaQulusi Public Safety initiated the first Easter Law Enforcement Awareness roadblock on Wednesday last week. They were joined by Vryheid SAPS, Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and the Immigration Department. The aim of the roadblock was to check for driver fitness, vehicle roadworthiness, and search for any illegal substances and firearms. It is estimated that 14,000 people die on South African roads every year. That comes down to an average of 269 people a week. Last Easter, 235 people died. The Department of Transport didn’t count 2020 because there was a lockdown and we couldn’t go anywhere. The 2021 fatality count was slightly down from 2019, when 260 people died. Hence, roadblocks of this nature are deemed to be very necessary.

A basic checklist when travelling:

· Obey the rules of the road and carry your driver’s licence with you

· Plan the route to your holiday destination and allow enough time to reach that destination, taking into account roadworks and delays along the route

· Check that your vehicle is roadworthy, including lights, indicators and windscreen wipers, etc.

· Take safety breaks / rest stops every two hours or 200km

· Never drink and drive!

· Recognise potentially dangerous drivers on the road, and pedestrians alongside the road

· Be visible; drive with your lights on in dull weather conditions

· Always wear your seatbelt

· Stay within the speed limit

· Maintain at least a two-second following distance

· Be courteous towards fellow road-users

· Be alert to changing road and weather conditions

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.