Residents urged to obey the rules of the road and save lives

20 February 2017

 

City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhubo has appealed to communities and motorists to always give emergency vehicles – including ambulances, fire engines and police cars – the right of way.

 

Cllr Makhubo was speaking at an Open Streets Day at Vuyani Mabaxa Extreme Park in Diepkloof, Soweto, on Saturday February 18. The event was aimed at creating awareness that streets and public spaces are for everyone to use and promoting road safety, cycling, walking and public transport usage.

“These emergency vehicles could be on their way to save the life of your family member or your relative or your friend. Please do not deny these officials access to your areas when they respond to a distress call. Always assist them. They are at your service,” Cllr Makhubo said.

She pleaded with communities in informal settlements to number and name their streets to enable government officials to deliver help and services. Cllr Makhubo also called on road users, particularly taxi drivers, to obey the rules of the road.

“Some taxi drivers have a tendency of deliberately flaunting the rules of the road. They overtake where they are not supposed to. They stop anywhere, anyhow. They don’t obey traffic lights and stop signs. In their illegal acts they end up causing accidents in which innocent people are injured or even killed.

“Some of their casualties are the very same people who help them put food on the table,” she said.

Cllr Makhubo also advised children against playing in the streets, saying more than 500 children died in car crashes daily around the world.

“Parents should ensure that children do not play in the streets but in parks, sporting grounds and open spaces, far away from the streets and roads. Roads and streets are for cars, not for playing in. Ride your bicycles on designated areas or at play parks,” Makhubo said.

She also appealed to residents to report potholes and dysfunctional streets lights timeously. “Only by working together – the government and communities – can we make our streets and roads cleaner, more accessible and safe,” she said.

A number of Johannesburg Metro Police Department officers gave children tips on how to ride bicycles safely. Residents were also screened and tested for diabetes, high blood, prostate cancer and HIV-Aids.