Cape Town 9 January 2001
Ladies and Gentlemen, a very good morning to you all.
South Africa became a member of SADC in 1994 and since 1995 fully participated in the development of a SADC Protocol on Transport, Communication and Meteorology. This Protocol, amongst others contains a full chapter on Road Traffic, which also calls for the harmonisation of road traffic signs within the Southern African Region.
The Protocol document was discussed and adopted at a SADC Summit in Lesotho in August 1996. It was signed at the same time by the Heads of State. The Protocol was ratified by the South African Parliament in September 1996 and came into force in 1999 after ratification by the required minimum number of member States.
At a meeting of the SADC Transport and Communication Commission (SATCC) in 1996 in Maputo, Mozambique, four member States were elected to form a working group with the mandate to immediately commence with the preparation of the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual. These countries were Namibia, Botswana, Malawi and South Africa, with Malawi as chair which was later taken over by Namibia. South Africa's offer to accept responsibility for all technical preparitory work was also accepted.
Volumes 1 & 4 of the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual (SADC RTSM) were completed during the latter half of 1998. It was approved by the South African Roads, Transport and Traffic authorities early in 1999 and by the Southern African Transport and Communication Commission (SATCC) in March 1999.
The 1994 (3rd edition) of the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual (SARTSM) volumes 1 & 4 (which was regarded at the time as the most up?to?date and comprehensive of its kind in the world and providing adequately for needs in Southern Africa) was used as a basis and amended in consultation with SADC member states in order to provide for their specific circumstances and needs. SADC's decision specifically excluded Volumes 2 & 3 of the South African Manual. South Africa, however, because of identified domestic needs, decided to continue with the review and finalisation of volumes 2 and revision of volume 3 for its own purposes. (SADC recently indicated that they may also adopt these 2 volumes in due course).
The 3rd edition of the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual, produced towards the end of 1993, conforms with the agreement reached at the Vienna Convention on road traffic in 1968. That is in the shapes, formats and colours prescribed. This system is also in line with global trends and increased tourism needs.
7 years is considered to be the average life span of a road sign. It was therefore reasonable to expect all road signs to have been replaced by the end of 2000 through normal maintenance budgets. To assist road and traffic authorities to comply with the provisioning of the new road traffic signs, a 7 year transitionary period of grace was given. This transitional period also gave authorities the chance to raise any additional required funds through traffic fines.
The following, globally accepted basic principles with regard to information on signs were adopted:
In order to simplify the navigation task for tourists, foreigners and drivers in unfamiliar areas; as well as to promote global uniformity, it was agreed that:
Route numbers have been used successfully for many years in many countries and have been allocated to the more important roads and streets with the specific intention of assisting the navigation process.
Road traffic signs were last promoted in South Africa about 7 years ago, prior to the development and implementation of the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual. The new road traffic sign system is to be promoted, as part of the Arrive Alive road safety campaign during January and February, with particular emphasis on signs and markings
The public, including school children; driver training schools; driver training and testing centres; provincial and local authorities and traffic officials will be provided with the latest information on signs, signals and markings in this regard.
In addition to printed material that will be available, a KNOW YOUR ROAD SIGNS COMPETITION is to be launched on 14 January 2001 in the Rapport and City Press and on 29 January 2001 in the Star. I would like to thank the private sector and interested organisations for their support and sponsorship of the competition. The competition will run until 16 February 2001 and the final draw will take place on 27 February 2001.
During the promotion campaign special attention will also be given to driver navigational needs and information use, i.e. pre?trip planning; the use of road maps; interchange and route numbers; the methodology and choice of names on direction signs, etc.
I want to appeal to all road users to become familiar with all road traffic signs, including traffic signals and road markings. In conclusion I would like to thank all those involved in this project for their commitment and dedication.) want to also especially thank the media for their continious support of Road Traffic issues and of the Arrive Alive campaign in particular
Thank you