​By Mologadi Selema/ Kwetsima Manganyi
As part of the 365 Days Action Agenda, we will be stepping up our operations together with our partners to ensure that prevention measures are in place and that those who flout our laws are brought to book without fear or favour. We are once again appealing to operators of heavy motor vehicles and public transport to work with us to ensure that their vehicles and drivers comply with the law and save lives.This is according to MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela during the release of the 2022 Festive Season fatalities statistics held in Grasmere, south of Johannesburg.
 The MEC added that the department continues to place more emphasis on speed reduction, the wearing of seatbelts and pedestrian safety, while patrolling routes of interest. “This festive season we lost many lives through horrific incidents due to human behaviour and error. These horrific incidents leave behind a trail of destruction and irreversibly alter the lives of families. They take away the lives of bread winners, children, and break homes of our people. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have lost their lives and those who have lost limb on our roads.
“Gauteng as the link of the nation’s road network bears an added responsibility that the movement of people and goods in our province takes place in a safe and sustainable manner. Our Growing Gauteng Together Through Smart Mobility plan puts at its centre road safety, decarbonising the road network and positioning our province as the inland hub for the movement of goods not only inter-provincially, but also to the rest of the African continent and the world,” the MEC said.
Releasing the Festive Season fatalities statistics, Minister Fikile Mbalula announced that Gauteng was the only province to experience an increase in fatalities, from 275 to 290, an increase of 5.5%. The period under review saw a total of one thousand four hundred and fifty-one (1 451) people losing their lives on roads nationwide. This is a 13.9% reduction compared to one thousand six hundred and eighty-five (1 685) fatalities in the previous period.
​​​​​​​Minister Mbalula expressed his appreciation to road safety and law-enforcement personnel and organisations for their role in educational and awareness activations in the build-up and during the festive season. “We have no doubt that road safety education and awareness remain critical in our efforts to arrest the carnage on our roads and prevent road crashes. We are determined to up the game in ensuring the law bites and those who continue to undermine the law will face the full might of the law. The success of our festive season campaign was dependent on the co-operation of every road user because road safety is everyone’s responsibility. It starts with you and me,” the Minister said.