Operation Juggernaut launched for Road Safety

The 31st of January witnessed the launch of a coordinated Road Safety Campaign that will address the perception amongst the public that law enforcement agencies only employ seasonal efforts to combat road carnage

Operation Juggernaut is part of the Rolling Enforcement Plan that is seamlessly implemented all year round. The Rolling Enforcement Plan is a product of the Law Enforcement Technical Committee (LETCOM) under the auspices of the Road Traffic Management Coordinating Committee (RTMCC). All the nine provincial traffic authorities across South Africa , six metros and six big local traffic authorities that comprise LETCOM have agreed to implement the Rolling Enforcement Plan (REP).

Minster of Transport, Jeff Radebe announced a number of positive objectives at the launch of this campaign. In preparation for the safer Easter Weekend, one of the objectives is to ensure that our road network has been cleaned off of road traffic offenders. Operation Juggernaut will be implemented during February 1- 29. The operation’s primary focus is to rid the road network of unfit vehicles and drivers and to focus on freight carrying, goods vehicles and passenger transport. These include learner transport vehicles so that by Easter time, only responsible road users remain on the road network.

Other areas of focus will include amongst others:

• To increase law compliance, reduce crashes, increase detection and prosecution of critical offences and restore confidence and respect for the road traffic management fraternity
• To stop and check vehicle fitness of mini-buses, buses, trucks as well as drivers
• Monitoring of speed as it is a factor in the severity of injuries in road traffic crashes
• Checking public transport documentation (Cross-boarder permits and Professional Drivers Permits)
• To monitor and curb moving violations, drinking and driving, learner transport vehicles, warrants and registration plates.
• Law enforcement officers will also be able to stop and check 200 000 public transport and freight carrying vehicles, perform overloading checks at Traffic Control Centres along major routes.
• They will do alcohol checks to combat drinking and driving, number plate recognition to detect vehicles with outstanding warrants as well as identifying vehicles used to commit crime.
• The use of safe public transport will be prioritized to safeguard the innocent lives of passengers.

In closing Minister Radebe remarked that road safety remains the mission of Government and Road Safety Authorities. Everybody’s support and commitment is required to reduce losses in our economy by saving thousands of rands that are caused through deaths, injury and loss to property and skills. He pleaded with everyone to heed the call to road safety and drive to Arrive Alive everyday!

A Global Road Safety Partnership Update

Road Safety requires more than Government strategies! It is widely acknowledged that many sectors have a role to play in road safety, especially in the prevention of crashes, deaths and injuries.

The Global Road Safety Partnership [GRSP] brings together governments and governmental agencies, the private sector and civil society organizations to address road safety in low and middle income countries. GRSP is a hosted programme of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [IFRC] based in Geneva. GRSP brings together different sectors at the global, national and sometimes local government level. GRSP provides advice on good practice and facilitates projects in a growing number of countries.

But are these efforts successful? The Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog is proud to refer all road safety enthusiasts to the GRSP Global December Newsletter. This document reflects on activities of the GRSP across the globe and also includes positive news from Southern Africa!

It is important that we give exposure to different strategies to enhance road safety, to give recognition to those companies that have committed time and resources to this cause and to benefit from these successful strategies!

South African Students confronting drunk driving

Students are one of the groups most vulnerable to the danger of drunk driving. It is therefore with great appreciation when we find that student groups and organizations strategize to face these risks.

Last week the Arrive Alive Road Safety website received a request for assistance:

Request:

” I was wondering who i can talk to about getting mini breathalyzers sponsored for O week and RAG. I am the social and welfare officer at UJ (Auckland Park, Kingsway) and we were planning campaign to prevent students from drinking.”

This request was referred to South Africans against Drunk Driving

Answer:

[ from Caro Smit, founder of SADD [South Africans against Drunk Driving]

Dear Jonckie,
Thanks for all these amazing referrals to SADD. It means we are now working with the students at UJ, UCT, Stell, OFS - so that is great news. Perhaps you could put up an Ad on your website for our 2 educational DVD’s?
Best wishes and thanks,
Caro

The Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog would like to refer students to the good work done by South Africans against Drunk Driving, and to find out more about this organization at their website at www.sadd.org.za

Positioning of GPS device in vehicle

Where to safely position a GPS device in your vehicle? This important question was raised to the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website:

Question:

“I hope you can help me or at least point me to someone/somewhere that can help. What does our traffic laws say about the placement of a GPS device on your front windshield? (is directly adjacent to the rear view mirror, to its right, acceptable?) Also what about listening to audio from a mobile audio player (such as an Ipod) in your car, having earphones stuck in your ears?”

The answer offered by our road safety expert:

Answer:

The legislation does not alow for any object to be placed in such a manner or position that it will interfere with, or obstruct the view of, the driver. This does not necessarily refer to only directly in front of the driver, but includes all angles which the driver would need to use to observe traffic and / or pedestrians.

Low down on the dash seems to be the best point for these (near the radio or simuilar position – remember that the best alternative is to find a safe area, pull off, and then interact with the device. Alternatively, a passenger can assist). It would seem that a fair number of these devices are attached on top of the dash – in the middle of the vehicle, but low down on the windscreen.

Attaching next to the mirror is not a good idea (although not specifically referred to in legislation – but see the point earlier).

Driving with music directly “piped” to your ears is also not a good idea – you cannot hear hooters or any other sounds that would make your driving a safer experience. There is no direct legislation referring to this – apart from general duties of te driver to drive in a safe manner / charges of negligent driving could be argued here.

Also view the section: “GPS and Road Safety “ on the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website

What are traffic officials talking about?

What are traffic officials talking about?

Have you ever thought of a day in the life of a traffic officer and what they are discussing in their strategy meetings? I am aware of the perception that they are only committed to generating revenue through speed fines – and having paid R400 earlier this morning for a fine – I must admit that the thought also sometimes crosses my mind..! [Driving 142km/h past Richmond 10h00 on the 4th of January...Eina!!]

The truth is however to be found in the announcement and agenda released by the RTMC for the 1st Annual RTMC Traffic Enforcement Conference to be hosted by the Free State Province from Monday, 19 May to Wednesday, 21 May 2008.

The main theme of the conference is:

“Towards Effective and Sustainable Road Traffic Enforcement Strategies – An Achievable Goal in South Africa.”

Topics to be discussed

Prospective authors have been invited to submit papers supporting the theme that could include the following topics:

• Harmonization and co-ordination of road traffic enforcement strategies.
• The National Traffic Law Enforcement Code.
• AARTO and e-NATIS.
• Innovative and Smart policing in road traffic management.
• The use of high tech enforcement equipment.
• The role of the NPA/DPP in the reduction of road crashes.
• 2010 Enforcement Needs. Leaving a lasting legacy.
• Effective recruitment, selection, training, deployment and performance measurement
• Identifying substance abuse among drivers.
• The role of traffic officers in addressing the Aids pandemic.
• Project e-Force.
• Effective Incident Management for Safer Roads
• The Role of Education and Communication in Road Safety
• How can engineering and enforcement compliment one another?
• The Multi-disciplinary Approach to Traffic Law Enforcement.
• The Proposed National Training Academy
• The New, 12 Month Traffic Training Course.
• Effective supervision equals effective results.
• Sound performance management and development for the enforcement fraternity.
• International perspectives on road traffic safety and benchmarking international best practice models etc.

May this Conference contribute towards Road Safety in South Africa and address the concerns of Visible and Effective Traffic Enforcement !!

Wet roads and power failures = hazardous motoring

During the past few days Netcare 911 has attended to numerous collision scenes where wet weather, faulty traffic lights and poor driving attitudes contributed towards the incidents. Between Sunday and 15h30 today, Netcare 911 has received 161 vehicle and 21 pedestrian collisions in Gauteng.

View alongside a photo of a collision that occurred at the intersection of Witkoppen and New Market roads in Northriding this morning. The traffic lights were only working in one direction and the roads were wet. A car and bakkie were involved in a ” T-bone” collision, both vehicles sustained moderate damage and needed to be towed from the scene. Luckily the driver of the bakkie was in a stable condition, however she was attended to by the paramedics in a precautionary manner and was transported by ambulance to hospital for further assessment. The driver of the car was not seriously injured and refused medical treatment.

The other photographs shows a large pool of water in Blandford road, Northriding. Many motorists choose to drive around such pools of water and often drive straight towards oncoming traffic. 

Wet roads are a hazard to motorists as they cause a mist or spray on other vehicles windscreens which affects the drivers visibility. Wet or sandy roads can result in a vehicle skidding and water logged roads can result in a vehicle aqua plaining. Pools of water can hide potholes or other dangers to your vehicle and tyres and should be negotiated carefully and at appropriate speeds. All of these are potentially serious instances which may result in the driver loosing control of their vehicle. Wet roads also affect a vehicles stopping distance which is why drivers need to increase their following distance in these conditions.

There is not much that the average person can do about heavy rain falls or power failures affecting traffic lights, however the correct driving attitude can go a long way in preventing collisions or reducing the severity thereof.

Where possible, we suggest that drivers plan their routes and leave early to try avoid the heavy traffic periods- this may also reduce the urge to rush. Many people are impatient because they are late due to the above mentioned conditions and may take unnecessary risks, we advise motorists to be extra cautious at faulty traffic lights and treat these intersections as four way stops. Remember that many other motorists are also stuck/delayed and may be using there cell phones and possibly not concentrating fully on the road, make sure other vehicles are stationary before you pull away from the four way stop. Turn your vehicles head lights on to make yourself more visible to other road users.

[ Information provided by Netcare 911 to the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog]

NETCARE 911
Emergency No. 082 911

Bus crashes into house in Roodepoort

At approximately 18h33, Tuesday 22 January 2008, Netcare 911 paramedics responded to a collision scene in Oranje street in Witpoortjie, Roodepoort.

Paramedics arrived to find that a bus had crashed into a house. It was raining at the time and bystanders alleged that the bus lost control after it was cut off by another vehicle. Four people sustained minor injuries, 1 of whom refused medical attention while the other 3 were transported by ambulance to the Laratong hospital. 2 Patients sustained slightly more serious injuries but they were stable and were transported to the Netcare Krugersdorp Hospital.

It seems that the bus veered off the road and travelled a few meters before crashing through the pre-cast boundary wall and travelled about 10 meters before crashing into what appeared to be the TV room of the house. The house appeared to be empty at the time of the incident and there were no other injuries.

This incident was attended to by Netcare 911, provincial fire and ambulance services and the Metro police.

[ Information provided by Netcare 911 to the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog]

NETCARE 911
Emergency No. 082 911

SA urged to donate blood!

 Johannesburg - People who have O and B blood types are being urged to donate blood to address a current blood shortage in the country.

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) says people with O and B blood types can donate blood at their nearest blood bank.

“This is a national crisis,” said SANBS spokesperson Sini Subrayen, on Tuesday. “We currently have 3.5 days worth of blood stock in Gauteng alone.”

Subrayen said that there needed to be at least seven days of blood available.

In Nelspruit, the SANBS has reported that it has only 973 units of blood left, which is about one day’s supply for hospitals.

Nelspruit needs at least 7 066 units to have a seven-day supply.

‘Abnormal shortages’

“In December we had to cut-back our supply to 13 hospitals because of shortages,” said Nelspruit SANBS spokesperson Whanita Horn on Tuesday.

Horn said O blood-types were often in greater demand than other blood types because it was more common.

She said that type Os can donate blood to types A, B and AB, but cannot receive blood from these groups.

Other affected provinces are KwaZulu-Natal, which has only a two-day supply and Gauteng, which has a 3,5 day supply.

Subrayen said the current shortages were “abnormal” as January and February were normally good months.

He said it may be that people are too pre-occupied with settling in at work or school after the holidays.

The criteria for donating blood is that a person must be between the ages of 16 and 65, must weight 50kg or more and must be in good health.

They must also have a sexually safe lifestyle and eat before they donate blood.

[ The Arrive Alive & Road Safety Blog strongly supports the plea for South Africans to donate blood!]
 

What could delay accident investigations in South Africa?

As mentioned in an earlier story, Transport Authorities have been urged to “speed up” the investigation of the bus disaster near Ulundi. It is important that all road users understand the process of accident investigation in South Africa. To better grasp the time frames of an accident investigation we have raised these queries with prominent accident investigator Stan Bezuidenhout:

What are the time frames for investigation of serious accidents?

As may be imagined, the time frame is directly influenced by the degree of detail of any particular report. If we complete a detailed investigation and report (with reconstruction) for the RTMC, the following time-frame might be a realistic depiction of the actual process:

a) Zero Hour                                Accident takes place

b) Within one hour                      SAPS at-scene officers confirm fatalities and decide whom to call or request

c) After two hours                       SAPS Vehicle Examiners, Forensic Pathology Services, a detective, ambulances, tow and recovery services, etc. are called to the scene

d) After two to six hours            SAPS vehicle examiners have arrived and completed investigations, bodies have been removed, evidence marked and vehicles removed

e) After ten to twelve hours      The RTMC “Quick Response form” is completed at the SAPS station and faxed through - management is informed of accident details

f) After twelve hours                  The RTMC decides to deploy a specialist investigation team

g) After 1 day                              The RTMC deploys and goes to the location where the accident has taken place - often traveling country-wide to reach the location

h) After 2 days                            RTMC contractors arrived, assessed vehicles, visited the scene of the accident, collected information from SAPS, but autopsy reports, statements, sketches, results and photographs from SAPS are not yet available.

i) After 3 days                             RTMC contractors return to their base of operation to review evidence and to await further information and compile a preliminary accident report - submitted to the RTMC within 24 hours.

j) After 2 weeks                          RTMC contractors received most information, but SAPS Vehicle Examination Reports are still pending

k) After 3 weeks                         RTMC contractors received all information (if everything is available) and start analyzing all factors, mean while attending to other accidents, appearing in court cases, etc.

 l) After 4 weeks                          RTMC contractor has completed the accident investigation/reconstruction report and forwarded it to the RTMC

m) After 6 weeks                        RTMC has been able to asses and read through the reconstruction report, and requests changes, if/where/as necessary, awaiting replies and amendments as available

n) After 7 weeks                          RTMC forwards a copy of the report to the National Commissioner of Police, Road Accident Fund, SANRAL, and others, as necessary and required.

o) After 6 -12 months                RTMC contractor is informed that he/she might have to testify in a court proceeding relating to the accident reconstruction report

p) After 24 months                    All court proceedings are completed and the matter resolved

Why does it often take so long and what could the delays be?

The most common causes of delays are, and remain:

a) Late deployment of qualified investigators/reconstructionists

b) Jurisdictional conflicts, i.e. police/traffic/metro refusing to release info to private contractors, etc

c) Release of vital evidence due to work-load, i.e. autopsy reports, blood alcohol results, etc.

d) Lack of manpower - too many accidents properly investigated by too few people

Is there a basic framework for a report on the accident and do all the investigators have to comply with specific criteria in reporting?

This is difficult to answer, but the reflex reply is a resounding “no.” When an accident is properly investigated, there could/should be as many as 400 photographs, since many elements need to be covered, yet as few as 4 are sometimes available. In a “proper” investigation, the human, environmental, engineering, mechanical and law enforcement dynamics need to be considered completely, separately and as an interactive dynamic.

The RTMC has compiled a pro forma standard used by its contractors, but this does not exist outside of their mandate.

Additional information on accident investigation is available on the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website:

•  Why should Commercial Accidents be investigated “properly”….?
• Accident Investigation Conference 2007
• Advice and Suggestions
• How to Choose An Investigator Photographs at Accident Scene

Who investigates serious accidents in South Africa?

I have read with interest the plea from the ANC in KZN for the Department of Transport to “speed up” the investigation into the bus accident near Ulundi. It is indeed of the utmost importance that relatives find closure as to the cause of death of loved ones - and also for Transport Authorities to gain information that can be used in preventative strategies!

The Road Safety and Arrive Alive Blog has decided to approach Stan Bezuidenhout, one of the most prominent accident investigators in South Africa, to assist in providing information to the public on accident investigation in South Africa. The responses are as detailed as his accident reconstructions – and will be detailed in 2 blog postings:

Who decides who is to investigate a bus disaster or serious accident in South Africa?

Currently, it is the actual task and function, by mandate, of the South African Police Service to investigate all serious crime in South Africa. Since accidents, involving death or serious damage to property, attract charges ranging from Reckless & Negligent Driving and/or Culpable Homicide, these accidents normally fall within their mandate.
The problem that exists is not one of whether or not the police SHOULD investigate these serious accidents, but rather whether they are fully able to.

As you may well imagine, there is the age-old issue of logistics, resources and available manpower and skills. The South African Police Service currently have members that are technically skilled enough to do a crime-related at-scene investigation, but lack adequate manpower to attend and investigate all serious accidents completely.

Herein lies the dilemma. You might have only one person capable of any high level of investigation, but he or she might be so overworked as to become near-inefficient. Even if an investigation is completed, it means almost nothing unless a report, or even a reconstruction, is completed. If a report involved numerous technical issues, it becomes bigger and needs to be prepared more carefully. If a police officer is sitting with more than 100 cases on his desk, there will already be a delay. Now take away his ability to complete them by sending him to more scenes and the problem quickly explodes out of proportion.

Then there is the issue of “reconstruction” and testimony. If a police man is required to reconstruct an accident, it might take him weeks to gather all relevant evidence, more weeks to analyze and interpret all of it, and even more to complete the report. In the mean time, he has to have time off, not attract illogical amounts of overtime, appear in court on previous matters and attend to new accidents, day and night. Imagine having to appear in court and being the only qualified person in a 700Km radius, and to hear that three or four serious (fatal) accidents happened during the time you spent in court!

Yet, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. The Road Traffic Management Corporation, affiliated to the Department of Transport and answering to the Director General of Transport has mobilized a program allowing them to appoint and deploy specialist investigation and reconstruction entities to deploy to accident scenes and to conduct a complete investigation and reconstruction.

These deployments are currently limited to the most serious and/or high profile accidents in South Africa - often involving more than five fatalities, commercial vehicles and/or taxis.

But - there are limits. Contractors invariably require compensation in excess of limited budgets. Thus, the RTMC must choose accidents wisely for mandate, since they have budgetary restraints.

The biggest difference between SAPS investigations and RTMC contractors is the detail to which they address accidents, the skills they possess, the technologies applied and - most importantly - their reconstructive skills.

Is there specific expertise required to qualify as an investigator?

Yes - but there is currently no specific standard or minimum level of qualification for someone to be called an “accident investigator.” A person attending to an accident and taking pictures of the position of vehicles, the damage to them and the marks on the road certainly “investigated” the accident, but so did someone that would take tyre pressures and tread depths, investigate brake system failures, investigate the human factor, look at the road condition, consider environmental factors and possible even look at tachograph recordings, etc. Who is to say one is not like the other, or better?

Herein lies the next dilemma - there is a serious need for the formation of a governing or at least standards generating body in this industry.

Additional information on accident investigation is available on the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website:

• Why should Commercial Accidents be investigated “properly”….?
• Accident Investigation Conference 2007
• Advice and Suggestions
• How to Choose An Investigator
• Photographs at Accident Scene