I would seriously like to rebuild the relationship between officials and the public. Historically there has always been a divide between these two groups of people because the one believes that they have absolute authority and the other feels like they are always done in.

Lately the divide has become wider as corruption has become an epidemic. The truth is that if the general public were more educated in terms of the Act, they would not allow themselves to be or become victims of these unscrupulous leeches they prey on innocent people, using the law as their defence. If they knew their rights and stood on those rights, vigorously, they would be dong more than their fair share in combating crime and corruption in this country.

Equally the law enforcers would know that as the general public was now more informed they would have to tread lightly as it were, when confronting a suspected transgressor. They would also know not to solicit or accept bribes in any form as they would then clearly understand the consequence of their actions. There are many officers who accept food or liquid refreshment as payment for not issuing a ticket, so money in itself is not always the currency of ‘trade’

Sad to say, but the majority of road users in SA are ignorant when it comes to the Road Traffic Act. They are the first ones to complain about being fined for something when other people are not fined for things that they assume are ‘worse’ than the offence for which they are being fined. What everyone seems to forget or perhaps not even know, is the fact that the NRTA 93 f 1996 falls under the CPA 51 of 1977 which makes all offences part of section 56 and therefore a CRIMINAL OFFENCE, PERIOD. The CPA is NOT the Consumer Protection Act as so many like to refer to it. The sooner people start accepting and adhering to, the fact that they are committing a criminal offence when they transgress the NRTA 93 of 1996, the better for everyone.

Why do so few people, in relation, commit serious crimes? Simply because they KNOW that if they are caught the chances of them ending up in a prison are very high. The greater majority of people that drive are of the belief that it is merely a misdemeanour when they transgress the law insofar as driving is concerned. The other reality is that they also know that in at least 99.99999999% of the cases they would be able to get themselves out of their predicament by offering some form of bribe to the officer/s.

The courts have not done much to ease the situation either. Issuing strenuous fines for speeding is deemed to be a serious form of punishment, yet the perpetrators still continue to speed. Why, one would ask? The answer is simple… It is because they know that they will either be fined or they will get a slap on the wrist. The courts need to enforce the full might of the law on perpetrators, especially repeat offenders. Perhaps some jail-time would be the shocker to wake people up to the fact that they are committing a criminal offence.

What is the purpose of having 94 Acts and 346 Regulations, all with sub-regulations in most of them, if they are not enforced? To say that in South Africa they do not fine for driving with park lights on is cool is wrong. It is an offence and the law should be enforced for contravening that Regulation. The same should apply for Daytime Driving Lights and all 345 other Regulations and 94 Acts.

Lastly, what purpose does it serve to pull over a truck that is overloaded along the road where no weighbridge is near, weigh it and show the overload, fine them, and then send them on their merry way….. with that same overload. No wonder our roads are in such a state. That is why there are laws that govern weight distribution and axle mass and why we have maximum weights for trucks.

In the end, who pays for all the road repairs, ALL of us through our license fees and from fuel tax and Toll fees. Makes no sence sometimes.

It is useless introducing a lower speed limit if the roads and vehicles are not up to scratch and that is not the purpose of introducing a lower speed limit either. The purpose of lower speed limits are speed fines, creating revenue and allowing people to drive that should not even have been in control of a bicycle, never mind a Truck, Car, Bus or Taxi!

Look at the aviation industry, you will not have a licence unless you can fly properly! and it is enforced. No bloody idiot will be allowed to shove his Airbus into any airport without proper flightplans and authorisation.

Why do we allow idiots behind the wheel of a vehicle?

Have a look a the accident figure on the AUTOBAHN, to prove that it is not speed that kills, but rather a huge lack of driving skill, poor roads and un-roadworthy vehicles. Look at Swedish driver training, it takes years, not a bit of balony for a week and a bribe under the table!

STOP BLAMING SPEED!!! STOP ISSUING LICENCES TO IDIOTS THAT CANNOT DRIVE AND THINK!!!

Today it is possible to travel in excess of 200 miles(320 km/h) per hour on the road in a fully road licensed car and not have an accident – IF your road that is properly maintained and some two bit idiot is not trying to pick up passengers, at 20 km/h in some two bit un-roadworthy vehicle in the right hand lane on the highway.

People – WAKE UP !!!We are not cattle!

Driving on the road is not a game on a Playstation at 100km/h or 300km/h – THINK FOR YOURSELF!!! SPEED IS NOT THE KILLER – IGNORANCE IS!!!

Mind you speed, yes, but speed is just a very small part of the road safety here in SA. but because it brings money people want to let us believe that this is the main issue here. the points underneath are MUCH more important for more safety on the roads.

1) Forbid people to cross the highway just every where they like.In all western countries this is forbidden. I very often had a emegency break during day or night because people here in the Cape just cross a HIGHWAY!!?? forbid this and fine them. make much more pedistrian places for them.

2)Control the cars more and better! i see every day all kind of old dangerous cars with bad lights or even NO LIGHTS on the road, there are full with too many people and even children without any belt in the front!!??

3) Forbid the heisbakkies to transport people! very dangerous!!

4) Make roads safer. Look to the R44 here. It is a highway if you want to exit you have to break on the highway because there are no exits to reduce speed. many people died here!! Also here people walk, use bikes, jog. Unbelievable to understand!? make space for these people and change road plans ASAP!

5) Change the traffic light system. It is confusing if you can go right if the other traffic is still driving yes or no.Some time it is a green arrow, some time a greenlight. Lot’s of accidents are happening because of this.

6) Many raod need urgent maintenace, stop signes are not to see any more, pot holes, broken up parts. etc etc.
Where is the police to take them from the road gentleman??

7) And last nut certainly not least, Do not phone in a car ithout a handsfree unit in the car!! And Police please control this . Every body is making phone calls while driving!

I hope these tips makes sence.

regards,

Paul Hubers

We demand that JMPD officers be required to look and act like real police, be fit, well trained, disciplined and uncorruptable.

As a person, with a valid and legally obtained drivers license, a roadworthy car which is legal and licensed, who does not drink or take drugs ever and who seldom flouts the rules of the road, I want to be able to approach a roadblock without any fear, without any stress that I may be unfairly treated or hassled for a bribe even when I have done nothing wrong. I want to know that the police are doing their job, not looking for pocket money.

Once all of these things have been settled and corrected, if we still have a high accident rate and death toll, if we still have unnecessary accidents, then you have my blessing to lower the speed limits and make my every journey between cities 20% longer. Until then, stop grasping at straws Minister, stop looking for recognition in the media when YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB.

Stop looking for the easy answer, stop soliciting the backing of the Green Lobbyists to re-assure yourself and start doing the job you were hired to do.

Reducing the speed limit will only heighten frustration and road rage, before making it safer.

In the Cape, keeping slow moving vehicles in left lanes will help too, not to mention the amount of pedestrians being killed – and that is not a speed issue either, unless you reduced the limit to 60km/h.