With the end of the year festivities in full swing and most people gearing to travel to other parts of the country, road and passenger safety have also taken the centre stage.
December is synonymous with road accidents as more vehicles, including minibus taxis, travel to different destinations.
However, authorities are working around the clock to mitigate risks associated with the roads.
On Wednesday 7 December, in an integrated initiative, Public Works, the City of Cape Town, Road Accident Fund (RAF) and police held a build-up for the festive season at the Lwandle taxi rank.
Ntsiki Ngqabuko-Tose, Public Works Principal Road Safety Officer, described “fatigue” as a major challenge that often led to accidents during this time of the year.
On the day, officials equipped taxi operators with safety tips, most of whom are popular among drivers.
They encouraged the drivers to take road rules seriously and to rest when taking long trips.
“In this week, we have been out trying to ensure we educate them at different taxi ranks. This coming week, we will be implementing our roadblocks and the language will change when we meet on the road,” Ngqabuko-Tose said.
She said overloading and driving under the influence of alcohol will not be tolerated.
Ngqabuko-Tose believes enforcement of road rules will yield positive results.
Phelelani Lobi, Lwandle taxi rank chair, said such initiatives are vital. He said they often caution and remind drivers about obeying road rules.
“Our taxi drivers need to think when they are on the road because there’s a whole network of people who benefit from the taxis they are driving. We all need to work together to ensure our deliver our commuters safe at their destinations,” he said.
Lobi said they also encouraged their drivers to rest or have a second driver to assist in times of fatigue along the roads.