Author Topic: JPSA - PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS (Read 515 times)

Epsilon · « **on:** September 21, 2011, 01:51:15 PM »

JPSA MEDIA STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TO:	All News & Transport Editors
DATE:	Tuesday 20 September, 2011 – 22:30
SUBJECT:	PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS

ßBEGINà

JOHANNESBURG – Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) was mildly surprised to hear that transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele is now seeking to reduce the general speed limit applicable on freeways from 120km/h to 100km/h, once again quoting what has been the case in Australia as an example of how road deaths can be reduced. He cites the fact that “studies conducted in other countries such as Australia where the speed limit is 110km/h indicate that a reduction in speed limit can save lives” but he seems to continually either miss or circumvent the obvious.

Whilst speed may indeed contribute to the severity of a collision, it is very rarely the root cause of collisions and one has to take into account that two vehicles travelling at just 60km/k each, which then crash into one and other head-on will have a devastating outcome. Head on collisions – of which there have been many in the last two months are almost always resultant from one or more parties committing one or more moving violations prior to the collision occurring.

Similarly, it has been repeatedly stated by the Department of Transport, the RTMC and countless others that collisions are almost always preceded by the commission of a moving violations, yet for some obscure reason, law enforcement authorities insist on focussing almost exclusively on camera based speed prosecution instead of concentrating on truly dangerous moving violations like overtaking on no-overtaking lines, blind rises etc., not stopping at stop streets and red lights, not observing safe following distances, etc. It has also been revealed that somewhere in the order of 45% of all people who die on our roads annually are under the influence of alcohol. Yet, the focus on highly ineffective camera enforcement remains the primary focus of traffic law enforcement agencies and in some agencies, this figure is as high as 99%. In Johannesburg alone, this equates to around 430,000 fines a month – each and every month and this figure is not reducing.

The Minister was quoted as saying “There are increasing calls and signs that something drastic needs to be done to arrest the current situation," and we could not agree with him more. However JPSA holds that the “something” that needs to be done is for the 17,000 odd traffic officers in this country, their bosses and the Minister himself to start taking the role of traffic law enforcement seriously. It is no good running around bringing new legislation – and adjustments to current legislation before cabinet when current laws are not being enforced properly.

So what if the Minister gets his ill thought-out scheme of reducing the current general speed limit of 120km/h on national freeways reduced to 100km/h if all this will mean is that even more cameras will explode onto the scene to earn traffic authorities more revenue? If speed enforcement does not revert to stopping speedsters at the time of their infringement, then reducing the speed limit will have absolutely no effect on the incidences of speeding. The Minister also needs to start to grasp the concept that “you cannot reduce road deaths by decree, Mr Minister!”

Continually comparing Australia and other countries which have highly professional and effective law enforcement agencies in place to South Africa is not only nonsensical, but acutely highlights the total lack of understanding the Minister has of his own country and what is giving rise to the problems we have. The only similarities between South Africa and Australia is that we are both in the Southern hemisphere and drive on the left hand side of the road.

Urgent attention must be given to the traffic authorities in South Africa taking their mandate seriously and starting to do things properly. If for example, traffic authorities were to purely focus on enforcing wearing seat belts, as is required by long pre-existing legislation, then there would be an immediate effect on the number of lives that are saved in collisions. But a holistic and very serious adjustment in the way in which traffic law is enforced in this country has to be made if anyone wants to see any results whatsoever.

The Minister also needs to bear in mind that camera enforcement will never catch the truly dangerous motorists on our roads who choose to emulate the actions of such people as Deputy Chief of the TMPD Ndumiso Jaca, and place counterfeit number plates on their vehicles! They will simply continue to speed with impunity. It is also noted that the Minister has taken no action whatsoever in that matter and has merely mentioned it in passing in one of his speeches.

ßENDSà

Best Regards,

Howard Dembovsky
National Chairman - Justice Project South Africa (NPC)
Association Not For Gain | Incorporated as a non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2008 | Registration Number 2010/019972/08
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 418 6210
Fax: +27 (0) 86 647 3293
Website: www.jp-sa.org
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jGLZa · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2011, 03:41:11 PM »

TL;DR

But Im all for it.

Epsilon · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:06:05 AM »

I'm totally against it. 100% with the JPSA on this issue.

Jason · « **Reply #3 on:** September 28, 2011, 01:41:34 PM »

As usual, more crap from the ANC...

More milking of the man in the street, who gets targeted every time. Seems the law doesn't apply if you're an ANC member/supporter

Author Topic: JPSA - PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS (Read 515 times)

Epsilon

JPSA - PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS

jGLZa

Re: JPSA - PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS

Epsilon

Re: JPSA - PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS

Jason

Re: JPSA - PROPOSED REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS