In a concerted effort to make South Africa’s roads safe, 910 248 vehicles were stopped and checked by law enforcement officers across the country during the month May 2013.

This forms part of the National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) and during May a total of 243 130 notices were issued for various traffic offences, 16 000 of which were for non-wearing of seatbelts both for front and rear vehicle occupants, 2 322 vehicles were discontinued and 1 728 were impounded as part of the enforcement plan.

1 744 drivers were arrested, 935 of whom were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Several major crashes were also reported with the most common crash types being head – on collisions and single vehicles overturning.  This is mostly due to unsafe overtaking, the driver failing to keep a proper lookout and excessive speeds.

Transport Minister, Ben Martins has reiterated the Ministry’s call to all South African to take personal charge and responsibility for their safety on the roads, be they drivers, passengers or pedestrians.

As a signatory to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 campaign which aims to reduce road deaths around the world by 50%, South Africans form part of the global community that carries the responsibility to reach this milestone.

Through the National Rolling Enforcement Plan implemented by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), an agency of the Department of Transport, more than one million vehicles and drivers are stopped and checked every month for various factors of compliance or lack thereof.