Road safety help offered

The National Letters

After reading “Authority compiles new road rules” in the newspaper, I have these suggestions to add to support the work to improve road safety.
As a learned citizen, and a security and safety officer over many years, I am also as road user and resident of NCD.

  1. Road signage: This aspect of road safety is not emphasised enough and we see that when a sign falls to the ground or is broken it is not replaced. If it was unscrewed then it needed to be bolted or welded on. Repairs and repainting should be done.
  2. Extensive or inclusive signage: To include all hazards faced by the driver, passenger and bystander – from mobile phones, speed bumps, pedestrians, potholes, bridges, animals, school children, speed limits, etc, etc.
  3. Awareness through the media is not being given the correct approach: There needs to be several clips with the top hazards included, and rotated, using several media outlets. For instance, the current clip on road accidents resulting from speeding (Sir Paulias Matane’s audio) needs to be given a break, and another prominent person should highlight another hazardous or high-risk road safety behaviour, like driving while using a mobile phone. This clip can go for a month then another clip comes in for the next month.
  4. Compliance by police and the Road Safety Authority staff themselves: Have a hotline available for people to report any breach affecting officers, and make public any investigation made and corrective active action taken.
  5. Some immediate actions within your operation centres: Liaising with NCDC to address avoidable traffic hazards such as vegetation at junctions, roundabout and roadsides which affect vision. Ensureall sidewalks are free from vendors who harass and block predestrians, thus increasing the risk of accidents. Introduce speed bumps to slow vehicles at populated areas.
  6. Partnerships with institutions, organisations, businesses which deal with drivers and mechanics, and driver training schools, security training centres, police training college, and OHS training centres.
  7. Partnerships with NCDC to raise safety issues with all road contractors, and make proper and sensible bus stops and pedestrian crossings.
  8. Increase the collaboration with Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited, traffic police, and police operations.
    I hope these points are taken on board by RTA as they endeavour to address this road traffic risk and general public safety.

Alois Nomenda
NCD resident