Improved access to eNaTIS info

Improved access to eNaTIS info

22 August 2008

The National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) public information website (not to be confused with the system itself) at www.enatis.com, previously hosted abroad, is now hosted in South Africa. As a result local users are experiencing a significant improvement in access speed.

The site has more than 12,000 registered users and features, among others, downloadable application forms, forums where members of the public can pose transaction-related questions and a clickable map linking to extensive service centre contact information.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit http://www.enatis.com for the latest news on system enhancements.

The youth to debate road safety at Sun City

The youth to debate road safety at Sun City

The National Road Safety Debate Competition has been scheduled from
10-11 September 2008 at Sun City (Baobab conference room),Rustenburg. At the recent Global Road Safety Partnership meeting members were informed of the quality of debate amongst the youth at the recent Youth Convention. The focus on road safety will be further enhanced at the National Road Safety Debate Competition.

This event will be held by the Road Traffic Management Corporation in close cooperation with the Department of Education and the GRSP. BP South Africa, a member of the GRSP, is kindly assisting in making this event possible.

The Arrive Alive Road Safety Website and this Blog would like to extend our best wishes to the organizers and entrants. May this debate create further awareness of road safety and ignite the passion amongst us all to save lives on the roads!!

Think twice before making a U-Turn on the road!

Think twice before making a U-Turn on the road!

It has been reported yesterday that two young boys died when a teenager tried to make a U-turn on a highway in peak-hour traffic. Seventeen people were injured when the 18-year-old driver, travelling on the N12 east, tried to cross to the N12 west and hit a taxi near Avalon Cemetery, Soweto.

The dangers of making a U-turn are often neglected by road users. If we were to search for the term U-turn on this blog we will however find a number of accident reports:

- “Sunday 09 March 2008. 11:21am R512 past Lanseria airport:
Motorcycle collided with a bakkie that was doing a “u-turn” near the Home of the Chicken Pie . The motorbike driver was in a critical condition and was placed onto emergency life support, he had sustained a head injury and several other fractures, he was airlifted by the Netcare 911 helicopter to the Johannesburg hospital.”
- “Paramedics arrived to find that a motorbike had collided with a bakkie. Bystanders alleged the the bikers were returning from a breakfast in Hartebeespoort and that the bakkie did a “U-turn” resulting in the collision.”

In an earlier post on this Blog I made special mention to U-turns. I will always remember that my last conversation with my late father dealt with his concerns regarding the U-turns made in Oudtshoorn. Since then I have paid special attention to these risks and would like to offer the following suggestions:

• Always obey the Rules of the Road and Traffic Signs
• Avoid U-turns and sudden changes in the direction of travel of your vehicle
• Never take for granted that your vehicle is seen or that your indicators are in working order
• When approaching a vehicle parked at the side of the road, slow down and be cautious – expect the unexpected!
• When approaching a vehicle that is reducing speed, be cautious to the eventuality of this vehicle changing direction without indicating its intention!
May we be more aware of other road users and potential risks on the road!!

Visit the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website to gain more awareness of Road Safety in South Africa!