2011-10-21: Connecting people & places – United Nations decade of action for road safety – Count me in!
ACCORDING to the Road Traffic Management Corporation's report for 2009, there were 277 fatal road crashes in Gauteng. In statistical terms, this means that three out of every four days of the year we can expect a person to die from a road crash.
For many, when we take into account the cost of these road crashes we limit ourselves to the costs of the vehicles involved, the use of emergency vehicles, etc. But as a city (and a society) we lose valuable human resources, many times the breadwinners of families. We cannot afford so many car crashes to wreck so many lives.
But we are also aware that motor vehicles do not drive themselves. It is us the residents of Johannesburg, who drive motor vehicles. The 2009 RTMC report also states that 82.85% of fatal crashes are caused by the human factor.
Therefore the MMC for Transport: Clr Rehana Moosajee, will be hosting road safety stakeholders, which will include commuter organisations, public transport operators, insurance companies, faith-based organisations, school governing bodies, youth structures, disabled organisations, and many others so as to discuss how we as Johannesburg can establish a Road Safety Council.
The express mission of the Road Safety Council must be to stop the carnage on our roads, through collective action and partnerships. The meeting will be held at the Gold Reef City Conference Centre, on Tuesday, 25 October 2011, from 09h00 to 15h00.
The meeting will include diverse speakers such as Ashraf Ismail from the RTMC, Mandla Msizi from the Provincial Department of Health, Thembela Mbalukwana from Headway, Gary Ronald from the Automobile Association, and Eugene Herbert from Master Drive.
The RTMC Road Safety Ambassador, Ms. Mangela Ngcobo, will be the programme director, who is also the current Miss Soweto.
The theme for Transport Month, is "Connecting People and Places", and therefore action must be as important as talking and discussing. Thus, participants to the meeting will be invited to join the MMC in painting a pedestrian crossing at the nearby Gold Reef Primary School.
All residents of Johannesburg as well as interested organisations and bodies are welcome to attend, for further information you can contact Fikiswa on 011 870 4615 or fikiswaz@joburg.org.za.
Media queries can be directed to:
Tebogo Mogashoa
Stakeholder Liaison
Office of the MMC
Tel: 011 298 5269
Cel: 072 207 5945
Issues on behalf of:
City of Johannesburg
"Building a better Joburg: Promoting public transport, walking and cycling"
