Ahead of the Easter school holiday, the provincial mobility department is conducting free vehicle fitness testing between 08:00 and 15:00 at Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell.
Vehicle testing started on Saturday 1 April and will conclude on Wednesday 5 April and forms part of the Easter Road safety campaign that was launched at the traffic college earlier today (3 April).
Voluntary checks included tyres, lights, brakes, suspension, CV joints, electrical, fuel supply system, exhaust, and wipers.
Motorists were assured that no fines would be issued nor would unroadworthy vehicles be removed from the road.
The focus of the campaign is to reduce Easter holiday road fatalities, said provincial minister for mobility Ricardo Mackenzie at the launch. During last year’s Easter holiday, 36 people lost their lives on provincial roads.
“Following last year’s significant reduction in road fatalities during the Easter period, we sincerely hope this trend continues with as few accidents as possible,” Mackenzie said.
He urged motorists to take responsibility for their own and others’ safety by driving responsibly and being on high alert as traffic volumes are expected to increase during the Easter holiday.
“As many of us prepare to travel, please remember to have your motor vehicles checked before leaving. This is critical to ensuring your safety on the road, as well as the safety of all other road users; so that you will all get to and from your destinations safely.”
Chair of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the Western Cape Mandla Hermanus, pledged Santaco’s cooperation with traffic law enforcement over the Easter period to “bridge the gap” between taxis and law enforcement.
“We have a common purpose and that is to make sure our passengers reach their destinations safely in a dignified manner,” Hermanus said.
Mackenzie continued to say that the department is expanding its transport hub with the province-wide license plate reading cameras that will enable the immediate detection of road traffic infringements, unroadworthy vehicles, fatigued drivers, cloned number plates and vehicles known to be involved in crime.
Motorist Rita Barkhuizen from Kuils River told TygerBurger that this was a wonderful opportunity for her to have her “old faithful” checked.
“I drive a 2003 Toyota Tazz and have been its only owner. I feel secure in knowing that everything in my car is in working order.”
By Monday morning about 60 vehicles had undergone testing.
