With the festive season travelling upon most South Africans, the Road Traffic Management Corporation together with the Department of Transport wishes to share road safety suggestions with motorists and all road users. The road safety tips should be able to assist motorists to reach their desired destinations without harm on the roads.
Chief Executive Officer of the RTMC, Advocate Makhosini Msibi has encouraged Motorists to drive at a safe speed and always observe the speed limit. According to the South African National Road Traffic Act, 1996 and its regulations, the general speed limits for freeways is 120km/hour, 100km/hour on public roads outside an urban area which is not a freeway and 60km/hour on a public road within an urban area, to also constantly wear seatbelts and ensure that passengers do the same regardless of how short the trip or how fast or slow the car is going.
Adv. Msibi has further urged motorists to avoid being distracted by using mobile phones while driving, and taking “video selfies” for instragram, facebook and other social media platforms. He has appealed to those taking long distance journeys to ensure that their vehicles are properly licensed and in a roadworthy condition. To further make sure that they overtake when it is safe to do so, and avoid head on collisions by making sure rests are taken after every two hours or 200km/hour travelled.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation has offered the following road safety tips to all road users:
Pedestrians:
- Always cross the road at designated pedestrian or zebra crossings.
- Pedestrians must not use ear phones or headsets whilst crossing the road as they will be distracted.
- They must be alert and able to judge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles.
- Pedestrians must resist the temptation of crossing freeways instead, use pedestrian bridges to cross.
Driver Fatigue – (Silent Killer)
- Rest enough before a long distance journey the night before.
- Remain alert at all periods of the journey and avoid distracted driving.
- Do not take heavy meals, and take safety breaks every 2 hours or 200km per hour.
Do not drink and drive:
- In South Africa, the legal limit for alcohol in a driver bloodstream is 0.05g/100ml; and for professional drivers is 0.02g/100ml. Being below the limit does not automatically lower you risk of being involved in a crash, rather not drink and drive at all.
Driving at Night:
- If you drive at night, decrease speed to counter poor vision of the road ahead.
- Every time you feel tired-pull off the road where it is safe to do so. And sleep or rest until you feel fit to continue with your journey.
- If possible, travel only during the day. Your chances of being involved in a fatal crash increases significantly at night.
Additionally, traffic volumes are expected to increase on some of the major roads from tomorrow, the N1 north to Polokwane and the N3 south to Durban, N2 connecting Kokstad via Mthatha to East London, N1 from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein connecting the Cape Town route will experience higher than normal traffic volumes. Motorists are informed to exercise patience and when stopped by traffic officers, to be polite and cooperate to their maximum efforts. Road Safety is everyone’s responsibility. #SaferFestiveSeason