AIM
The aim of the project was to make students aware of the fact that they should act as responsible road users and to arrive safely at their destination. Alcohol abuse during Intervarsity is a serious problem among students.
Research in South Africa has proven that the human factor is the largest cause of road fatalities. Statistics in South Africa prove that approximately 15 000 road fatalities take place annually, which amounts to 35–40 road fatalities per day. In other countries, such as New Zeeland, there is less than one road fatality per day – it definitely is a goal to strive for.
The following factors were accentuated during the project:
• Blood alcohol level (measured by blow instrument) – less than 0,050% (more or less one and a half
glasses of wine or beer per hour).
• Cars need to be road worthy and tyres, indicators, wipers etc. must be in order.
• Cars that are overloaded, for instance too many passengers (especially a problem during Intervarsity).
• The driver’s attention is distracted by passengers who are noisy and boisterous under the influence of alcohol.
• Wear safety belts.
• A driver who is not in possession of a legal driver’s licence.
• Inexperienced drivers.
• Exhaustion – rest on average every 200 km and take regular meals.
• Safe following distance and driving distance.
• Drive with headlights on – visibility is always better.
PROJECT
A safe route was determined with the assistance of the respective provincial traffic departments, as well as traffic officials of the towns along the route. Traffic officials also patrolled the route during the entire weekend. Wesselsbron was the halfway halt. Drivers’ blood alcohol levels were tested, and if a driver tested above the legal blood alcohol level, another driver was appointed for the rest of the route with controls by means of road blocks in Bothaville and at Skandinawia Bridge up to Potchefstroom.
A very pleasant atmosphere was created at the halfway halts with the help of the Vrystaat Vroue Aksie and CAD. Tasty snacks, such as “braai” sausages, buns, jaffles, pancakes and lovely hot coffee, were sold. Even neat mobile toilets were available. It was a great come-together for the students and some even lingered around longer than was necessary. A few “braaied” meat and socialised pleasantly with their student mates.
A Buddy project was presented in Potchefstroom during the party on Friday evening. Students were transported to and from the party free of charge for the duration of the evening.
DRIVER INCENTIVES FOR STUDENTS
The first 200 drivers who were tested sober were rewarded with a gift voucher for petrol, worth R200,00. A further encouragement was that the firm Precision Safety Appliances of Pietermaritzburg, which were responsible for blood alcohol level tests, handed out a first aid kit and a CD with easy listening music to the first 200 sober drivers. Survival kits were also handed out to each student – the contents consisted of coffee, sugar, Cremora, a plaster and condoms.
INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED
1. The provincial traffic department, by names Mr BD Paul, Ms L Labuschagne and Mr D Snoer
2. Traffic department and police of Wesselsbron – Mr Wilkins and Capt Tait
3. Potchefstroom’s Municipality and traffic department – Ms Ina Stoltz and staff
4. Arrive Alive – Adv Johan Jonck
5. Precision Safety Appliances – Thorsten Lotto (Durban)
6. SAB – Adv Neo Sephoti
7. South Africans against Drunken Driving – Ms Caro Smit (Pietermaritzburg)
8. Free State Women’s Action and volunteers – stalls with snacks at halfway halt
9. NWU Potchefstroom Campus – Marliaan Erasmus and peer helpers who presented an awareness
project regarding the dangers of alcohol abuse in hostels prior to Intervarsity.
10. Total Campus Potchefstroom – Mr and Ms Frik le Roux (gift vouchers for petrol)
Marketing was done with the help of:
1. Bloemfontein:
• The SR member Men and Ladies Internal Relations – Chrisna de Kock
• The Social Worker’s office – Ms Annelize Visagie (posters put up in Student Centre, hostels and faculties)
• Pearl Seakamela – Kovsie Career Centre
• Kovsie FM – Duard Grobbelaar
• OFM – Mia
• Volksblad
2. Potchefstroom
• Department of Marketing and Communication (Mr Theo Cloete, Ms Kiewiet Scheppel and Gerhard who took photo’s)
• PUK FM (live interview Wednesday 29 July 2009)
• The Wapad student newspaper
• Harold local newspaper
• De Plate Kompanjie – Corli de Kock
SPONSORS
Heartfelt thanks to the following people, firms and departments for their positive attitude, support and generous financial contribution for the launching of the project:
• The Campus Rector – Prof Annette Combrink
• The Director Academic Administration – Mr Willem Pienaar
• The Campus Registrar – Ms Dorothy August
• The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences – Prof Marlene Viljoen
• The Student Dean – Prof Hendré Reyneke
• The Head of Financial Support Services – Mr Danie Hefer
• The Head of PUK Sport – Mr James Stoffberg
• The NWU PUK Health Care Centre – Ms Elana Olivier (PUK VIGS), Sr Bea Pretorius (Primary Health)
• SAB – Adv Neo Sephoti
• Precision Safety Appliances – Thorsten Lotto
VOLUNTEER WORKERS
Many thanks to one and all who helped voluntarily with so much enthusiasm and energy to launch the project:
• Vrystaat Vroue Aksie – Ms Ria Malan and volunteer workers
• CAD Wesselsbron – Uncle Roy
• Provincial and local Traffic departments
• Arrive Alive – Adv Johan Jonck
• Precision Safety Appliances – Thorsten Lotto and Mareike
• Marliaan Erasmus and “Peer Educators” with the presentation of the awareness project in the hostels prior to the Intervarsity
• South Africans against drunken driving – Ms Caro Smit
• Dr Corinne Strydom and Dr Roux and all the Social Work students for assistance with packing the survival kits
• Staff of the Joon van Rooy Building by names: Suzelle Buys, Carien Campher, Seugnet du Plessis,
Cornelia Pruis, Martie van der Merwe, Elize Jacobs, Cecilia Monteith en Fiona Joubert
• Pieter Conradie – Master of ceremonies and for taking photos and making a video recording.
• Last but not least, Danelle Kamffer, secretary of the Social Worker’s office. She was a star! She acquitted herself of her task in an exceptionally professional manner.
EVALUATION
The “Drive Safely” campaign during the Intervarsity between PUK and Kovsies was an enormous success.
Approximately 260 cars stopped in Wesselsbron during the project, and more or less 1 200 students participated in the project. Alcohol-wise, not a single student tested positively and according to the Traffic authorities not a single accident was reported on the route or in Potchefstroom during the weekend. Feedback from the students regarding the project was very positive. The students as well as their parents are of the opinion that it was an excellent project and would like to see it come to stay annually during Intervarsity.
The project created a fine opportunity, in a jovial atmosphere, to make students aware of their responsibilities as road users. Awareness of the dangers of alcohol abuse and of drinking and driving took place spontaneously. What was also surprising was the opportunity for friendly, spontaneous and overwhelmingly positive interaction between students and traffic and police officials.
The Buddy project during the party on Friday evening was exceptionally successful. Students made use of the project to and from the party; consequently not one single accident involving students was reported during the night.
CRITICISM
I am aware of the fact that some members of staff are indeed dissatisfied with the launching of the project, because not all parties that should have been involved were contacted in time, and because condoms were handed out in the survival kits. An awareness project regarding the disadvantages/dangers of alcohol abuse has been part of my planning during the past year – the time and place simply was not available. Near enough three weeks prior to the Intervarsity I was approached by De Plate Kompanjie to consider such a programme along with them during Intervarsity. At the spur of the moment I decided to launch the project, within a very short time span.
Constructive criticism for an even more successful project in 2010 when PUKKE go to Kovsies is very welcome. It can only contribute to a more effective attempt. I humbly offer my apologies for any discomfort caused to any person.
Secondly, as a Christian, premarital sex is against my principles. From my experience as a Social Worker on campus, I am, however, thoroughly aware of the consequences of social problems such as alcohol abuse, unwanted pregnancies and abortion. If a student has strong principles, a condom in a parcel will most definitely not make him/her feel uncomfortable or offended. My motto in my office still remains: Your Choice is your Responsibility!
Kind regards,
Lenie Kotzé
North-West University: Potchefstroom Campus Social Worker