Durban - The IFP in the KZN Legislature says transport authorities must stop being complacent and enforce traffic laws on a daily basis and not just because it's Transport Month.
The IFP’s statement comes after the KZN MEC for Transport, Sipho Hlomuka, announced the department’s plans to intensify its focus on trucks this October.
The Transport Department said it would be conducting random assessments of trucks and checks on documentation of drivers, and the fitness of drivers and their conduct on the road.
The IFP questioned why the MEC waited for Transport Month to enforce traffic laws.
IFP KZN provincial spokesperson for Transport Steven Moodley said the IFP believes that the implementation and enforcement of strong, evidence-based road safety laws and regulations have been shown to be highly effective in reducing road traffic deaths and injuries.
He said the KZN Department of Transport should be leading the charge.
“The way they have gone about enforcing road safety is simply unacceptable in the face of countless road deaths.
“Too often, the KZN Department of Transport seems to be caught on the back foot when it comes to responding to this crisis. This kind of knee-jerk reaction must stop once and for all,” says Moodley.
Moodley said the party believes that consistent enforcement of traffic laws in order to improve road safety in KZN is long overdue.
“We cannot afford to wait for Transport Month. Traffic rules must be enforced on a daily basis.”