The IFP in the KZN Legislature calls upon all churchgoers to ensure that any vehicles hired to attend Good Friday church services are roadworthy.
We have observed in the past that many people lose their lives while en route to church services during Easter holidays. We implore churchgoers to make sure that any vehicle hired – whether a bus, taxi, bakkie, lorry or sedan – is roadworthy.
We encourage churchgoers to request a recent roadworthy certificate – particularly for buses and taxis – before they make any form of payment. If the bus or taxi owner fails to produce such documents, they must not hire their vehicles. Safety is non-negotiable, and roadworthy vehicles will prevent unnecessary accidents.
In addition, we urge drivers to take rest intervals on long-distance journeys. A driver asleep at the wheel is much more likely to cause death or serious injury.
Further, we implore traffic police to take no chances and arrest reckless drivers. They must ensure that our roads are safe, as many people will be travelling home for the Easter holidays. We would also like to call for more roadblocks – during the Easter holidays, but also after the holidays. Piecemeal efforts to enhance road safety will never solve the problems we face. If we have roadblocks on most major routes and have police visibility 24/7, road accidents can be reduced dramatically.
The IFP believes that reducing traffic fatalities is not just a question of safety features such as road signs, pedestrian crossings, and speed bumps – it is also about changing the behaviour of road users.
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Contact
Mr Blessed Gwala
IFP Chief Whip in the KZN Legislature
078 290 5842
