The “silly season” is upon us and there can be no better time to focus on road safety issues than right now.
Justice Project South Africa has teamed up with ER24 and the Arrive Alive website (www.arrivealive.co.za) to launch the JPSA Eyewitness Programme.
This initiative is aimed at demonstrating the consequences of being involved in a collision in a direct, un-glorified and uncut manner.
How it works:
Participants in the programme are expected to fulfil a number of hours “community service”, accompanying an ER24 Emergency Response team to serious Road Traffic Collision scenes. Each participant is equipped with a high visibility reflective vest and a heavy-duty broom and gets to accompany the advanced response unit from ER24 to at least one serious collision scene.
Their function is to stay out of harm’s way but to sweep up broken glass and other collision debris at the scene and they must stay at the scene until such time as the response unit leaves. They will then accompany the Paramedics to the relevant hospital and will be required to assist in cleaning the ambulance.
Why this approach?
There is a huge difference between telling someone something and showing them. Generally when one sees something with your own eyes you are more inclined to believe and remember it than if you are simply told about it.
Watching a TV programme or advertisement or reading about something generally has little impact because of the remoteness and separation of the incident from the observer whereas being “in the thick of it” has a profoundly different effect. Once one has seen the effects of a serious collision where real people have either lost their lives or been seriously injured, you never forget it.
Fines, arrest, imprisonment and threats thereof have proven themselves as being ineffective strategies in stemming the carnage on South African roads but to date no other strategy has so much as been considered. Even though JPSA made recommendations based on the Eyewitness Programme to the RTMC and AARTO back in July 2009, these recommendations have been ignored. If the authorities are not going to do it, we will and we have the participants lined up and ready to go.
Don’t the courts already impose community service as part of sentences?
Yes they do, but this usually involves cleaning police stations etc. Whilst punitive and maybe even demeaning, this achieves nothing with regards educating drivers on the effects of delinquent/irresponsible behaviour. Our programme is not intended to punish. It is intended to educate and correct behaviour – disposing of the punitive approach.
Who can participate?
In the pilot phase of this project, JPSA has selected some individuals who have been provided assistance. Agreement to participate in the programme was acquired prior to help being provided and now we are collecting on the promise.
When the programme is in full swing, the following people will be eligible to participate in the programme:
• People nominated by the JPSA (fees may be waived in this case);
• Anyone who successfully applies to be included in the programme on a voluntary basis;
• Any learner driver who successfully applies to be included in the programme on a voluntary basis;
• Any “delinquent driver” sentenced by a South African court of law to serve community service for a road traffic offence, provided that the court suspends or waives the monetary fine that would typically be imposed – except in cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs where this condition does not apply. This is of course assuming that the courts feel that this programme has merit.
The amount of time required to be served will depend on the reason for inclusion in the programme but will not be less than 10 hours.
Is there a charge for the programme?
In order to assist JPSA in maintaining itself and providing equipment, there will be a charge of R250.00 per participant.
What happens once one has participated in the programme?
On successfully completing the stipulated hours of service and meeting the conditions of the programme, the participant will be awarded a certificate of attendance.
Can anyone participate in the programme for a second time?
No. If a participant does not get the message of the effects of serious collisions after their first participation in the programme, then the only real way for them to get the message is to be injured in a collision themselves. Hopefully, not too many people will choose this route.
When does the programme’s pilot launch?
We have arranged for Anthony O’ Moore and Gregory (another motorist who would like to remain anonymous) to participate in the programme on Saturday 12 December 2009 from 2pm to Midnight. Both individuals were arrested for allegedly speeding in August 2009 and spent 15 hours in police cells.
Anthony was acquitted in November 2009 and Gregory’s charges were withdrawn against him, after JPSA appointed an attorney (Anton Burger) to act on their behalves since neither could afford an attorney. As an extra condition of assistance, Gregory also agreed to donate a pint of blood to the SA National Blood Transfusion Service and this will be done on Saturday morning.
This is NOT an admission of guilt on their parts – it just demonstrates their willingness to participate in our programme.
Media invitation.
JPSA invites interested media parties to attend and report on the launch of the Eyewitness Programme at 1pm on Saturday 12 December at ER24, Manor 1, Cambridge Manor Office Park, Corner Witkoppen & Stonehaven, Paulshof, Sandton.
Please call Howard on +27 (0) 82 418 6210 if you are interested.
Obviously we cannot guarantee that there will be an appropriate call-out, but given that this is a Saturday and is happening at the unofficial start of the festive season, the chances are very good that there will be.
No private vehicles will be allowed to accompany the response team to scenes but ER24 will provide high resolution photographs after completion of the event.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Yours sincerely,
Howard Dembovsky.
National Chairman
[The Arrive Alive road safety website has agreed to provide media coverage of this effort to create awareness of the need for attention to road safety]