eNaTIS contractor meets highest quality management standards

Tasima (Pty) Ltd, the project company responsible for creating, implementing and maintaining the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) on contract to the Department of Transport (DoT), has attained ISO 9001:2000 certification following a comprehensive audit of the company’s quality management system by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), the certification body that audited Tasima for ISO 9001:2000 compliance.

The certification was formally presented to Mr Johan Vorster, Tasima’s CEO, by Mr Martin Kuscus, CEO of the SABS, at a ceremony attended by senior executives from, among others, the Department of Transport, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and Face Technologies.

‘Quality management considerations formed the core of our approach right from the onset of the eNaTIS project in 2002,’ says Vorster. ‘Attaining ISO 9001:2000 certification is the culmination of many years of hard work by the dedicated Tasima team, in particular our quality assurance team comprising Dr Stoffel Lombard, Dr William Tlhapi and Mr Casper Opperman, aided by external consultant Mr Edwin Muthaphuli. To us, this certification is not merely a matter of fulfilling a contractual obligation on the project – it serves as independent confirmation of our ongoing quest to add value through continually improving our quality management system in line with the highest possible international norms.’

ISO 9001:2000 certification is subject to review every six months, and Vorster states that the company will not rest on its laurels now that initial certification has been attained. ‘We are committed to the principles that lie at the heart of the ISO 9001:2000 standard and will continue to apply these in all our activities,’ concludes Vorster.

[ The Quality Team appearing on the photo:Front (from left to right): Dr Stoffel Lombard (quality management team leader); Dr Steve Mncube (chairperson: Tasima management board); Mr Casper Opperman (team member)
Back (from left to right): Mr Edwin Muthapuli (management systems consultant); Mr Johan Vorster (Tasima CEO); Dr William Tlhapi (team member)]

Road Safety to be addressed at Youth Convention

The Road Traffic Management Corporation [RTMC] will be hosting the National Road Safety Youth Convention scheduled from 24-25 June 2008 in Mpumalanga. It is recognized by road safety authorities that the younger generation needs to be empowered with knowledge and motivated to actively address the need for greater road safety.

14 Youths from each Province have been invited and will be involved in breakaway discussions on road safety and thereafter to come up with resolutions which will be reviewed annually.

The RTMC has also extended an invitation to the Global Road Safety Partnership to attend the event and provide their expertise and insights on global road safety youth initiatives

A declaration of intent will be handed by the attendees of the Youth Convention to the Minister of Transport

On 24/6/08 all delegates will be welcomed at a braai at the Kruger National park at 17h00.

The main event is on 25 June 2008 at Bundu Lodge, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
(08h30)

The Arrive Alive Website and Road Safety Blog would like to extend a word of best wishes to the organizers and attendees of this important event. May this make a significant contribution to road safety in South Africa!

Take a breather and read about basic CPR

Do you know what to do in an emergency? What if you are the only person at the scene of an emergency with medical assistance only half an hour away? This is a situation that we fear – the risk of standing next to a loved one with no idea of what to do.

Most of us are aware of the concept of CPR and have seen enough movies where this act has been performed. The only way to gain confidence to perform this procedure is to attend a CPR class, to practice the skills and remember them.

There should however be a few suggestions available in writing as well. The Arrive Alive Website approached the experts at Netcare 911 with a request for a few suggestions to be included on the road safety website.

The steps of CPR are easy:

- Check that the area is SAFE

- Check to see if the patient is responding.

- Call for help - dial 082 911

- Open the patient’s airway. Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin.

- Check to see if the patient is breathing; do this by looking at the chest and listening.

- If the patient is not breathing, give two breaths. Take 1 second per breath and check to see that the chest rises.
- Continue with breaths and compressions at a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Compress the chest at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Push in the middle of the chest, pushing down approximately 5cm. Push hard and fast, allowing the chest to completely recoil.

- Continue doing this until the patient recovers, or until help arrives.

- If you are uncomfortable doing mouth-to-mouth, or do not have a protective mouth piece, doing only chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute is acceptable.

These notes and a few images of the procedure have been included on the Arrive Alive Website and also on the mobile website at arrivealive.mobi

Not a good day for road safety in South Africa

At 12h00 today the Arrive Alive website received a sms from road safety friend and well known accident investigator Stan Bezuidenhout with the following message: “Just been deployed to Cedarville in EC, 20 deceased so far. Stan. IBF Investigations”

Media reports through the day indicated that a huge operation was underway to try to rescue an unknown number of injured bus passengers from a 150m deep ravine near town of Cedarville in the Eastern Cape. The bus was owned by a local private company and was transporting passengers from Mvenyane village to Matatiele when a tyre apparently burst.

Provincial Emergency Services Director, Shanks Maharaj, said that emergency services found 20 people dead when they first arrived and at least 10 more have died since then. Maharaj said the bus was carrying at least 65 passengers when it rolled off the Kaka’s Pass and down the mountainside.

Two Air Force helicopters from Durban have arrived on the scene and specialised staff and equipment have been flown in by fixed wing aircraft from East London. Ten ambulances as well as fire trucks were assisting.

Media reports also reflected on several other accidents within the past 24hours. These reports were included on the Arrive Alive Website and on ArriveAlive.mobi

Are these the new speeding fines?

Earlier today an email was forwarded to the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website detailing “New Speed Fines”. This was referred to John Schnell from the KZN Traffic Inspectorate for clarification.

This appears not to be an official indication and I would like to quote from the response:

“ There is in the AARTO legislation a proposed scale of penalties, such as those in circulation, there is also a proposed Road Traffic Act amendment in the pipeline to set upper limits for endorsement, suspension and cancellation of driving licenses by Magistrates for excessive speeds. Presently this forms part of discretionary sentencing and is not imposed sufficiently to create the necessary deterrent, which is much needed. These amendments have been in the “pipeline” for some time now. We will wait and see.”

The Arrive Alive Website and this Blog will provide information on any official announcement on speed fines!

Quads to ride for charity in September

What is the Quads 4 Quads Charity Ride?

It is a social family ride in the dirt – all the way from Thunder Valley in Brakpan to Cane Cutters resort in Ballito and back again. The ride raises funds for the QuadPara Association of SA. (QASA) Fundraising Number: 0008811. Last year, the riders raised 1.2 million for the organisation.

Dates:

The plan is to leave JHB on Thursday the 25th of September, Arrive in Ballito Sunday the 28th. Then we leave Ballito again on Thursday the 2nd and back in JHB on the 5th October. You can either ride down, or up, or you can do both if you are very brave. Briefings and registration will be the day before the ride kicks off.

Who can come?

Anyone really – as long as you have an offroad bike, quad, go-kart or side-by-side.
We do suggest nothing less than a 200cc though.

Do we need a backup?

We prefer it if you have a bakkie for backup – say 1 bakkie and trailer per five riders. MAN Trucks send along a truck or two so if you cannot shake any of your mates up to come along, we will make sure that you are looked after. Backup vehicles do not travel along the same route as the bikes and quads.

Is it technical?

There are sections that are slightly technical, but the bulk of the ride is easy with beautiful scenery. There is approximately 15kays of tar on the whole route, the rest is in the dirt.

Do we load and tow on any of the sections?

No – you ride the whole way. The total distance is just more than 900 kays with sleepovers in the towns and villages in between.

Do We Need to take our own food?

Bring snacky things and pocket money, but dinners, lunches and breakfasts are all included in the entry fee.

Accomodation en route?:

Your fee includes camping the whole way, so bring along your tents and camping gear. You may, however book into bed and breakfasts all along the route.

Those details are on the booking forms.

What about petrol?

There are petrol stations every 100 kays – so bring along fuel money – roughly R600 per bike per direction – depending on how thirsty your bike is – and how high the petrol price goes… . If you cannot do 100 kays on a tank, strap a spare 2 litre to the carrier.

What if we have an accident?

Netcare911 send along two or three medics to ride with us. Polaris SA supply backup quads. Helicopters and ambulances are on standby along the whole route.

Breakdowns:

Last year we had a bike shop or two with us. They took care of all of the breakdowns along the trail. More serious damage was loaded on the trucks and repaired in the towns. Carry the odd spare like master links, puncture kits, cables and tubes.

Pre Quads 4 Quads dinner: Trade your kit for a suit or dress and your boots for dancing shoes.

The Family Adventures team in association with the Willow Park Hotel and Conference Centre will be hosting a 3 course dinner and dance, date to be advised. Funds raised go towards the Q4Q event.

If you have any queries, or if you would like to come along, contact Sinead at: dirtads@mweb.co.za or 072-765-1855.

The Quads 4 Quads ride is fun, an awesome experience and it is for such a great cause. For booking forms, please contact the organizers: foleyg@mweb.co.za or on (011) 979-1239.

The Arrive Alive website and the website Quad24.co.za would like to extend their best wishes to the organizers of this event. May this be a safe and enjoyable ride and contribute towards the wellbeing of out friends from the QuadPara Association.

No excuse to behave like animals!

Come on fellow South Africans – there is no excuse to behave like animals during the recent “xenophobic attacks” on foreigners! South Africa has lost a great deal in sympathy and support from those international friends who have always respected and assisted in the efforts towards democracy. These recent attacks could not have come at a worse time – a time when the rest of the world is in anticipation of our preparedness for the Football World Cup 2010.

During the Transport Budget Speech last week we witnessed an emphasis on the importance of creating an effective infrastructure to accommodate our foreign visitors – and we need to respect foreigners from our own continent as well!

The image of the animal chasing the man was initially intended to be used next to a piece on “avoiding animals on the road”. The xenophobic attacks however reminded me of the comparison to the behavior of some of our citizens. This animal might also have had his territory intruded upon – but the animal does not have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. We however are supposed to be able to choose between right and wrong, to act in accordance with that distinction – and even are entrusted with the privilege to cast a vote. Perhaps we need to start acting as if we are capable of doing so!!

[ The Arrive Alive Road Safety website has recently assisted our friends in Nigeria with the development of a mobile road safety website at nigeria.arrivealive.mobi]

5 killed in car crash near Delmas

Five people died when a bakkie and a car collided on the Delmas road this afternoon. Four victims were already dead when emergency services arrived, a fifth person died at the scene. One other patient with a partially amputated leg was airlifted in the Netcare 911 helicopter to Pretoria Academic hospital.

The incident was attended to by Netcare 911, Tshwane emergency services and SAPS

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

NETCARE 911
Emergency No. 082 911

6 dead in two collisions in Vaal area

Friday May 23 2008 21h00

During a head on collision between two large trucks four people were killed as both trucks caught fire, both drivers as well as two young children died in the incident, one female victim survived in the one truck, she is believed to be the mother of the two children, she was injured and transported to hospital. The co driver in the other truck also survived and was also transported to hospital. (Heidelberg hospital.) One truck was carrying glass, the other was carrying heavy rolls of metal which caused some damage to the road surface as the truck rolled.

Both trucks burnt out in the incident, at 9h00 on Saturday morning the road was still completely closed as clean up crews were still busy.

The incident location was on the R54 Villiers Vereeniging road after Vaal Marina.

Netcare 911 paramedics in the same area also attended to an accident in which two people were killed after their car hit a tree.This was in the Heidelberg area at about 07h00, although the incident itself must have occurred a few hours earlier and was only called in as it got light and a passer by saw the vehicle. It was extremely badly damaged, the victims were trapped in the vehicle.

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

NETCARE 911
Emergency No. 082 911

What is 2010 to road safety?

The importance of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to road safety was emphasized earlier today by the South African Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe. The Media Statement following Minister Radebe’s Budget Vote Speech reveals the importance placed by Government and the Department on the safety of foreign visitors – and the need to address weaknesses in infrastructure.

Important aspects raised were the following:

* The success in hosting the mega event of the 2010 FIFA World Cup much depends on an efficient transport system, that is, to efficiently move people to stadiums, to areas of their accommodation, to recreational and tourist areas, as well as enable transport between cities as people would be moving from one game to another.
* The Transport Department’s initial initiatives to acquire 1400 luxury coaches to provide transport for guests attending the FIFA World Cup games are at an advanced stage.
* The Department of Transport is working hard to put up infrastructure that would meet the World Cup transport imperatives while knowing that such infrastructure will continue to be invaluable in the transport needs of our people and economy long after the last goal is scored.
* The increased transport capacity for the FIFA World Cup will help resolve the limited transport capacity that is characterized amongst others by traffic congestions particularly during peak hour traffic.
* Today, we are 750 days away from the 2010 World Cup and as the transport sector our 2010 related projects are in full swing and the majority are to be concluded before or on time for the event.

The overall investment framework in transport infrastructure includes

• Road Infrastructure R 70bn
  Access Roads (EPWP) R 3bn
  Airports Development R19.5bn
  Air Traffic Navigation R 400m
  Passenger Rail R 18bn
  Taxi Recap Programme R 7,7bn
  Gautrain R25bn

Additional aspects raised with an immediate affect on road safety are:

* The Taxi Recapitalisation Programme has resulted in over 13 500 taxis being recapitalized and R 675million being paid to taxi operators.
* The AARTO project will be implemented as a pilot project in June, while a national roll-out will be implemented in 2009. Critical to this is the demerit system aimed at fostering law compliance to ensure road safety.
* Processes are afoot to move the eNatis programme from the Transport Department to RTMC.
* Roads safety remains a critical issue on our roads, more so as road casualties rob families of their members in the most violent and traumatic ways that leave lasting scares, with many loosing their bred winners and plunging dependants into poverty.
* Our Arrive Alive campaigns have yielded positive results with the reduction in car fatalities over the past festive season and Easter weekend.

[Information was compiled from the Media Statement released by the Department of Transport]