AA Traveller Winter 2022

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Opinion Government should heed its ownadviceonroadsafety BY LAYTON BEARD, HEAD:PUBLICAFFAIRS &INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, AA SOUTHAFRICA 8 OnaMondaymorningacoupleofweeks ago, Iwas sittinginheavilycongested trafficonmyway to theAA’soffice in Midrand. Thebumper-to-bumper trafficwas backed-upfor about three blocks andajourney that normally takes25minutes wasalready stretchingpastanhour. Trafficlightson this legofmyjourney wereout duetoEskom’s rolling blackoutsand amajor intersection on theway was completely log-jammed. Sadly, this is notunusual,and whilewedon’t want to accept that these things arehappening, we must toleratethem. What concernedmewas thelackof trafficlaw enforcementtodealwiththe inevitable congestionand thesubsequentbuild-upofanger amongstdrivers. TheintersectionI’m referringtoisone of thebusiest in theeastofPretoriaand is used by tens of thousands of motoristsdaily,particularlyduringpeaktimes. But therewas notone trafficofficialinsight.Not one. Whilemostofusinthis dire situationstuck it out andfollowed therules therewerethose idiotswho droveintooncoming trafficoronthe sidewalks to avoidthe build-up. And, as Isat in my cocoon of steel, theinevitablehappened: threevehiclescollidedright in themiddleofthe intersection.Thankfully, no-one wasinjured, butthe ensuingchaos just addedmore confusion –and wasted time –tothe situation. Once Icleared themadness,Ibegantowonderwhy this situationwas even allowed to happen in thefirst place. Don’ttraffic departments getnotifications of imminentblackouts? Aren’t trafficofficials meantto be on hand to assist motorists,especiallyinsituations such as this?And critically,why wasthis happening afterthe same thinghad happenedonWednesday the previousweekwhenthe lights at thesameintersection werealsoout? Then somethinghappenedthatmademehopping mad. As Iwas drivingalong theN1Southtowards Johannesburg,Inoticedtwo MetroPoliceDepartment vehicles, with twooccupants in each,parkedonthe side of theroad. I’mnot sure what exactlytheyweredoing butbythe looksofit, they weren’t doingmuchexcept sittinginparkedvehiclesonthe side of theroad. In 2019,areportwas issued by theTraffic Law Enforcement Review Committee,acommittee establishedbythe previousMinisterofTransportto review,well, trafficlaw enforcement in SouthAfrica. Amongstits recommendations, thecommitteesaid SouthAfricaneedsdouble theamountoftraffic law enforcersthanwhatwecurrently have (toaround 50 000 by 2030). Unfortunately, this isnot happening, andamicrocosmofthe effectsofnot having adequately staffedtraffic lawenforcementdepartments playsout in scenarioslikethe oneIdescribed, andworse. Thereare many thousandsofgoodmen andwomen whoworkintraffic departments across ourcountry andwho performtheir workdiligently andwith honour everyday,and they must be givencreditfor the excellentwork they do. Butmuchofthe good work they do is being overshadowed by thelackofpropertraffic policing,and it shows. SouthAfricaremains acountry with one of theworst road safety recordsintheworld,and ourannualroadfatalitiesstaythe same,orincrease, instead of decrease. Roadsafetyisabig problem in SouthAfrica, and road fatalities cost oureconomy closeonR165billion annually –money that should be used forbetterand more productive initiatives. Roadsafetyrequires acollectiveeffortfromevery road user (motorists, pedestrians, motorcyclists) andeverytraffic law enforcer to improve. Withoutaconcerted effort by governmenttoensureproperroadsafetyour situation simply won’t change. Anditstartsateveryintersectionineverycityand town in SouthAfrica, andgovernmentshouldheed its ownadviceand do somethingnow to deal with it. Layton Follow Layton on Twitter@LaytonBeard Main photo:Getty Images/GalloImages AA Traveller | WINTER 2022
Special report Blue light brigades: AroadsafetythreatinSA If thePresidentialProtectionUnit, informallyknown as the blue lightbrigades,are allowedtocontinueoperating as theydonow – uncheckedand out ofcontrol –governmenthas no moralplace to speak aboutthe national road safety crisis in SouthAfrica,saysthe AA. Presidential Protection Unit convoys transporting politicians onthe country’s roads –especially on major highways –continue to pose aroad safety threat for all motorists, and their operation should be reviewed. The AA says it will communicate with the Ministers of Police and Transport to have such areview ofthe so-called blue light brigades instituted urgently. “Blue light brigades are, simply put, athreat toother drivers. There is growing anecdotal evidence that PPU drivers are aggressive toother road users, that they speed way above the applicable speed limits, that they swerve dangerously inand out of traffic and that they disrespect other road users. But the blame isnot only theirs; their passengers are as much to blame, if not more so, than they are,” says the AA. Section 58(3) of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) permits drivers of emergency vehicles, such as traffic officers and duly authorised drivers, as well as particularly a“person appointed interms of the South African Police Service Act who drives avehicle in the carrying out of his or her duties”, todisregard the directions of aroad traffic sign displayed inthe prescribed manner. Regulation 176 of the NRTA further states that drivers on the road are supposed togive an absolute right of way toavehicle sounding adevice orbell ordisplaying an identification lamp. Road usersshouldnot be bullied offthe road or to be forced to give rightofwaywhenitis not safe to do so. The AApoints out that any driver who drives recklessly oriscareless about the safety of other users on the road can beheld liable for gross negligence where they pose a threat to property or another person, whether they were driving apolitician, delegate, VIP oracar fitted with ablue light, just like any other road user. “Obviously we appreciate that this regulation is intended to deal with emergencies and to give authorities the road space they need to deal with these. But to invoke this legislation to transport VIPs at high speeds, with atotal disregard oftraffic laws, isnot only unacceptable, it’s dangerous. Road users should not be bullied off the road or to be forced to give right of way when it is not safe todoso. The law protects the safety of the road user first,” says the AA. The association says such behaviour negates any attempts by government to address the country’s high annual road death numbers. It notes that if blue light brigades are allowed to continue operating asthey donow –unchecked and out of control – government has no moral place to speak about the national road safety crisis in South Africa. “If politicians –and members of the Cabinet –speak onroad safety, and the need to deal effectively with the carnage on the country’s roads, they must also obey the rules and instruct their drivers to do likewise. When blue light brigades exceed speed limits, and drive dangerously and recklessly on the country’s roads, the message is that rules don’t apply tothem, and the safety of other road users doesn’t matter to them,” concludes the association. 9 Have you hadanexperiencewith ablue lightbrigade?Shareyourstory with theAAontwitter.com/AASouthAfrica or facebook.com/AASouthAfrica JOIN THECONVERSATIONONTWITTER: #JoinTheMovement #SupportTheCause #AAFightingForConsumerRights
Page 1: traveller AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION OF
Page 4: 46 58 14 Contents 22 TheMarabi Club
Page 7: Letterfromthe AA CEO Credit whereit
Page 11 and 12: In thenews Withthe priceoffuelat al
Page 13 and 14: ADDITIONAL SOURCES: aa.co.za;gov.co
Page 15 and 16: National park WORDSAND PHOTOSBYEVAN
Page 17 and 18: National park Numerousquiver treess
Page 19 and 20: Thepark's receptionoffice WHERETOST
Page 21 and 22: GOOD TO KNOW VEHICLE: Youmustdrive
Page 23 and 24: It sinthe pt old Thecityisrichinhis
Page 25 and 26: City guide Sweet Teaand Chikadee hi
Page 27 and 28: City guide Shop till you drop! If y
Page 29 and 30: City guide Let'sgo for adrive Quali
Page 31 and 32: SouthernCape Farmersinthisregion ha
Page 33 and 34: Karrie versus witblits andmampoer
Page 35 and 36: Winterdestinations ANDCOSY 35 Don
Page 37 and 38: Winterdestinations MPUMALANGA KWAZU
Page 40 and 41: St John's Anglican church Thebig pi
Page 42 and 43: Weekend away 42 The village has alo
Page 44 and 45: Weekend away 44 Halfstar Hobo Hotel
Page 46 and 47: 46 THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO Thepilgri
Page 48 and 49: Hiking 7 48 6 CaminoInvierno Ponfer
Page 50 and 51: THEFRENCHCAMINOS TheCodex Calixtinu
Page 52 and 53: Janine andStefan Schoombie Dr Anton
Page 54 and 55: Science 54 Amouse-freeMarion Allisn
Page 56 and 57: Localentrepreneur Sinceits launch i
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Soup-er Winter is soup season.Fromc
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ROASTEDVEGETABLE SOUP WITH LAMB NEC
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COSY READS FOR COLD WINTERNIGHTS An
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Gear 66 LOOK BEFORE YOUBUY •You
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By Juliet McGuire IT’S ELECTRIFYI
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PRICING FORTHE AUDI E-TRON RANGE: e
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Motoring 74 AWORD ON EVsINSA Is Sou
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Blockbusters CROSSWORD 99 Capital o
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Last word So,how was your holiday?
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AA Traveller Winter 2022

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