As the festive season rapidly approaches, the City of Cape Town is intensifying its efforts to promote road safety among motorists and public transport operators, reports Cape {town}Etc.
With traffic volumes set to surge as families embark on long-distance travels to reunite with loved ones, ensuring vehicle safety becomes paramount to reduce road-related deaths and crashes.
Historically, the City has provided a service for public transport operators, allowing them to submit their vehicles for voluntary checks ahead of the busy travel period.
This year, however, the initiative is being expanded to encompass all vehicles, both private and public, and will be available at two key Vehicle Testing Stations throughout December.
The Bellville Vehicle Testing Station will offer checks from the 11th to the 19th of December from 8am until 3pm.
Similarly, the Joe Gqabi Vehicle Testing Station will be open for inspections on the same dates from 8am until 1pm. The initiative aims to identify potential defects in vehicles ahead of departure, ensuring a safer journey for all travelers.
‘We thank those operators who have, for years, made use of the service available under the auspices of Operation Exodus, but these are a fraction of the vehicles leaving our city,’ said Alderman JP Smith, Mayco for Safety and Security.
‘This year, we are changing tack to widen the net in our bid to keep travellers safe,’
In addition to the voluntary checks, the City’s enforcement agencies will increase roving vehicle checkpoints to assess basic vehicle safety.
Officers will focus on critical checks such as tyre tread, brake functionality, and lighting, as well as confirming that vehicles have up-to-date licensing. Importantly, drivers must ensure they are in possession of a valid driver’s licence, and for public transport services, a valid professional driving permit (PrDP) is necessary.
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When officers find a vehicle that appears unroadworthy, it will be directed to a City testing facility for further examination.
Should it be deemed unroadworthy, the vehicle’s disc will be removed until the owner can provide proof of roadworthiness as mandated by law.
Smith emphasised the responsibility of motorists to ensure their vehicles remain roadworthy. ‘Making sure your vehicle is safe is vital for the safety of yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Unfortunately, the festive season is notorious for a higher death toll, and we should all do what we can to make our roads safer,’ he stated.
In light of the impending holiday travel, the City has offered several essential tips for long-distance driving:
- Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, and keep a spare wheel and tools in case of emergency.
- Do not drink and drive, and always check that you have a valid driver’s licence and, for public transport, a valid PrDP.
- Rest adequately before embarking on your journey and consider having a backup driver to facilitate breaks.
- Take breaks every two hours to stretch and refresh, or whenever you feel tired.
- When pulling over, choose safe areas away from traffic to ensure your safety and that of others.
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Picture: Gallo Images
Source: City of Cape Town
