Campaign to raise safety awareness in the freight industry

In order to prevent accidents, MEC Sello Lehari has urged truck drivers to adhere to safety regulations and always follow their designated routes. Truckers from the industry are being engaged in an awareness campaign near Brits by the Department of Transport in partnership with the Truckers Association of South Africa (TASA).

There had been 398 fatalities attributed directly to trucks in the last three months, five of which occurred in the North West Province. Several arterial routes in the Province are gateway to Botswana going up north of the Continent.  

“This initiative will form part of our awareness campaigns to reduce incidents and fatalities on our roads, especially those involving trucks”, says MEC Lehari. 

TASA President, Ms Mary Phadi says it’s possible not to cause accidents. All that is needed is a collectively effort of all stakeholders. 

“We need to get to the stage where road fatalities are reduced drastically and punitive measures be taken against all those culpable”, says Ms Phadi. 

MEC Sello Lehari says partnerships with stakeholders such as TASA are important. Meanwhile there is slight reduction of road fatalities in comparison with the same period last year. 

“We have an 11% reduction of fatalities and we will continue to be visible on all routes and engage motorists and all other road users,” MEC Lehari said.

During the campaign, MEC and TASA President engaged Truckers at the Bapong Weighbridge outside Brits.