DA to draft Private Member’s Bill to combat road fatalities 

15 September 2016

The DA will draft a Private Member’s Bill in order to declare provincial traffic officers as an essential service.

Every year the Gauteng Traffic Department sets targets to reduce road fatalities by 10% per annum.  

These targets are never achieved, while road traffic fatalities increase by more than 10% year on year.  

According to road traffic statistics most fatal accidents occur over weekends from Friday at 18h00 to Monday mornings at 02h00. 

Alcohol abuse, reckless and negligent driving, as well as motorists colliding with pedestrians not wearing visible clothing are the main contributory factors increasing road fatalities.  

Provincial traffic officers are employed in terms of the Public Service Act and work 40 hours a week from Monday to Friday from06h00 to 22h00. Their profession has not been declared an essential service in terms of labour legislation. 

Therefore, provincial traffic officers refuse to work in shifts to ensure a 24 hour presence every day and on weekends, which is now regarded as overtime, placing a major strain on the departmental budget. 

It is imperative that the provincial traffic profession is declared an essential service. 

Traffic law enforcement needs to take place 24 hours a day, otherwise road users will continue to break the law, severely compromising road safety.

Issued by Michele Clarke, DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety, 15 September 2016