MEC warns against hitch-hiking
As the festive season sets in and commuters embark on trips to various holiday destinations, provincial transport MEC Weziwe Tikana urged commuters to put safety first at all times while on the road and to use standard public transport.
A new fad for hitch-hikers has seen more than seven active Eastern Cape lift clubs emerge on Facebook with at least 600 participants, and the most popular with more than 9,500 users.
However, the department of transport warn commuters against hitch-hiking.
Speaking about various means of transportation, department of transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the department did not promote hitch-hiking due to the safety concerns, adding that easy identification in the case of accidents was good for all parties.
“This must be one of the issues commuters consider when selecting a mode of transport.
“We would like to encourage commuters to use recognised public transport services like taxis and buses as they are easy to trace.
“Commuters [may also] report any issue that made them uncomfortable to either Santaco [SA National Taxi Council] or bus associations.
“Unlike the formal public transport system where commuters are often listed for longdistance travel, hitch-hiking does not provide that record.
“Emergency practitioners often rely solely on any kind of identification on a person.”
In cases where commuters hitch-hike, Binqose called on them to record the registration number of the vehicle and communicate the details of their lift to a relative or friend.
He further cautioned of horror hijacking stories and cases where commuters fall victim to the motorist.
The department of transport and provincial police have set out multi-disciplinary roadblocks which started in November following the national Safer Festive Season launch in Motherwell by the police.
Binqose said the roadblocks were primarily aimed at the safety of road users.
“In line with the increased volume of traffic on our roads as is usually the case at this time of the year, the operations will also be heightened and intensified – all in the interest of the safety of our road users.
“[We will be] looking at the state of drivers – are they licensed and driving dry – the [roadworthiness] of the vehicles they’re driving in, as well as to ensure that motorists pay their traffic fines.”
Binqose said these were multi-disciplinary operations in that they would include traffic officers – provincial and municipal based on the applicable jurisdiction – the police, the department of home affairs and the SA National Defence Force.
“These operations at times are critical in detecting other criminal elements beyond traffic infringements.
“In addition to these, interprovincial traffic law enforcement operations will be implemented with provinces such as the Western Cape targeting the N2 and the R61; KwaZulu-Natal focusing on the N2 [and] Free State focusing on the N6.
“These are some of the critical roads that always experience increased traffic volumes over the festive season,” she added.
Tikana said as the political head of the department of transport, safety and liaison, she would like to wish the people of the Eastern Cape a happy holiday season.
“And those who will be visiting this province – either to reconnect and spend this festive season with their families or those who will be here purely as tourists, visiting our various holiday attractions – a safe and happy holiday.
“Before embarking on their journey, they must ensure both driver fitness, as well vehicle fitness. Stay alert on the roads and adhere to the speed limit.”
The provincial department will have its law enforcement officers scattered in various hotspots across the province – from national roads to beaches – to ensure they are safe at all times.
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