Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya led a road safety operation on Wednesday night in Tshwane, targeting drunken drivers and promoting responsible road use.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department operation, held on Sefako Makgatho Drive in Montana, aimed to safeguard the city's streets and save lives, especially with the holiday season looming and transport month in full swing.
Mayor Moya expressed her support for the metro police officers, who were joined by the SAPS and private security personnel.
She emphasised the importance of sustainability in programmes aimed at reducing fatalities and accidents on the road.
“This is our transport month and we had a lot of programmes this month. What is important is that we are heading to the festive season and we need to make sure there is sustainability in the programmes that we roll out that will lead to reducing fatalities and accidents on the road,” Moya said.
Community Safety MMC Hannes Coetzee also encouraged motorists to prioritise road safety, urging them to ensure their vehicles are safe, tyres are in good condition and licence discs are up to date
“We want you to make sure that your vehicles are safe; make sure that your tyres are safe; make sure that your licence discs are in place because we want to make sure that we have less deaths and accidents on the highways,”he said.
He told motorists to make sure their vehicles are in a good condition and to desist from drinking and driving.
“Stay off the road if you are drunk; rather book into a hotel but we are not going to accept such behaviour; we are going to have a zero-tolerance approach,” he said.
Metro police chief Yolande Faro reiterated these safety tips, appealing to motorists to prioritise their safety and the safety of others.
She said the operation was part of transport month activities and a preface of a festive season period.
“We are here to make sure that vehicles are in good condition. We want to appeal to everybody that before you hit the road; if you are going to leave Tshwane over the festive season make sure your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition,”she said.
Motorists who will be travelling for a long distance were urged to rest every two hours.
Faro said: “Make sure your brakes are working, make sure your tyres are not smooth and make sure you don’t drink and drive. We are not saying you must have a good time, but rather join lift clubs, e-hailing transport or make sure you have a sober driver with you because we want everybody to arrive alive.”
Pretoria News