LEAD SA has identified road safety as a key area to mobilise change among South Africans. "We can all make a difference by being better, more careful drivers," said Terry Volkwyn from LEAD SA.
In this spirit, LEAD SA in the Western Cape partnered with local authorities to launch a name and shame campaign against drunk drivers early last year. The campaign, which publishes the names of convicted drunk drivers in the media, received instant attention and saw a rapid decline in arrests of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Based on this success, LEAD SA wanted to extend the campaign nationally, and engaged Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to roll this out. As former Transport Minister, Radebe understood the impact drunk driving has on the death tolls and pledged his support publicly. "I undertake we're going to be partners..." he said at the time.
Months later and despite numerous follow-ups with his department, Radebe has failed to deliver on his promise. "While lives are shattered and the blood continues to spill, Radebe and his counterparts are dragging their feet," Volkwyn said. "Minister Radebe, you are being named and shamed for not delivering. But, if you are committed to clamping down on drinking and driving, now is the time, it's not too late," she urged.
In addition to the naming and shaming campaign, LEAD SA is involved in various other transport awareness and action initiatives during October. Talk Radio 702 will be adopting the notorious Moloto Road outside Pretoria. The station will identify the problems that cause the unacceptably high death tolls on this road and to get commitment from the relevant stakeholders to resolve these issues.
94.7 Highveld Stereo will be partnering with Imperial I-Pledge to ask listeners to donate baby car seats that they no longer use to the station's Ground Patrol. The car seats will be refurbished and donated to motorists who are travelling with small children but have no car seats.
567 CapeTalk will be addressing similarly problematic roads and intersections in the Western Cape, to bring down accident numbers in these places. In addition to this they will be running a Commuter 360 campaign which will ask commuters to report on the times and efficiency of getting to and from work using various methods of transport, both public and private.
94.5 Kfm has identified a problematic intersection at Rosmead Avenue and Wetton Roads. They will broadcast a show from this point, following which, the Ground Patrol team will monitor and update listeners on the issues and incidents occurring at this intersection.
"These initiatives are not intended to be flash in the pan stunts," Volkwyn said. "We plan to follow up on all these projects and to use the specific roads we've identified as case studies to prove that there are ways to resolve the problems facing many of our roads."
For details of these initiatives, go to www.leadsa.co.za.
