8 September 2003
Address by Minister AM Omar: Inter-Provincial Traffic Policing Conference, Cape Town 2003
Fellow Ministers, MECs, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, delegates.
Transport plays a significant role in the social and economic development of any country, and the government has recognized transport as one of its five main priority areas for socio-economic development. The effectiveness of the role played by transport is, to a large extent, dictated by the soundness of transport policy and the strategies utilized in implementing the policy.
We are living in one of the most exciting periods ever known. It is a time of stupendous and radical change. As futurist Laurence Frank says, " We are living the events which, for centuries to come, will be minutely studied by scholars who will undoubtedly describe these days as probably the most exciting and creative in the history of mankind."
This astounding time has been given the title "The Information Age" and it's more than just a catch phrase. It consists of millions of events happening simultaneously - socially, culturally, technologically, economically and politically - all taking place at an accelerating rate which, in the process, are redefining and shaping the way we work and live. Technology is redefining our lives, and it's happening at great speed. This unprecedented upsurge of information and knowledge-based technology is expanding exponentially.
Together with all this is the increase in the number of road traffic accidents and incidents on our road and street network. Since January 2001 the average increase in the number of fatal accidents was in the order of 1,47% per month. As you are aware, more than 95% of these accidents happened as a direct result of a traffic offence. In order to combat this daily carnage we need to effectively combat the occurrence of traffic offences. The Road to Safety Strategy : 2001-2005 addresses a variety of programmes and projects to do just that. Two of the four key thematic areas defined in the Road to Safety involve traffic law enforcement and which are directly related to the daily task of each and every traffic officer. Of all the role players involved in the improvement of road safety, traffic law enforcement could possibly be regarded as the most visible functional area which is subjected to the general public and road user opinion on a daily basis.
Unfortunately traffic policing has been bashed, belittled and blamed for everything that could be seen to be wrong on our roads since the 1970s. It has even been made the laughing stock of the country through various attempts by vehicle manufacturers to market themselves as well as being core ingredients in a series of films and advertisements.
Over the last few years, with the ever-increasing traffic volumes becoming a reality of life, traffic policing has become the scapegoat for the ills of everyday traffic congestion blues and the paramount reason for why so many people die on our roads, particularly during the Festive and Easter holiday periods.
Why, then, are we gathered here for the next few days? What do we hope to achieve? I am of the opinion that the main aim of this conference should be to change these perceptions.
Perhaps, before we do anything else, we should define our role in the transport industry. The White Paper on National Transport Policy states:
"Traffic Policing (law enforcement) is a priority of traffic management, due to a severe breakdown in discipline on the roads, which in turn leads to unsafe conditions, damage to the road infrastructure, etc. The lack of discipline can only be rectified through strong proactive and reactive control actions. The effectiveness of the traffic control function must be improved substantially."
That, then, should be our point of departure today. Our role is to provide effective traffic policing. This can only be achieved through a thorough analysis of all the critical issues involving traffic policing, the elimination of weaknesses and the development and implementation of procedures that will strengthen the effectiveness of the profession.
How do we go about doing this? During the next few days we will share information on trends and projected methods as well as discuss certain key elements that affect the type and level of traffic policing. Amongst others, these will cover:
With the implementation of national systems regarding judicial processes, as well as the following up of policing activities, it follows that the policing structures should be nationalised through a single, well coordinated cooperative management and control structure.
We are developing a draft Code of Conduct, a Code of Ethics and a Professional Council Bill and is presently also working on a national uniform and rank structure.
The basic course is presently being redesigned to meet the demands of modern traffic policing, as well as to prepare our officers for the future - both in terms of professional skills development and in terms of the changes facing policing in our country.
Currently, courses and curricula are being developed for in-service training. These will cover both refresher training and advanced training aimed at improving career opportunities as well as allowing for specialization.
Equipment needs to be kept up-to-date to ensure that optimum manpower utilization is achieved. Tasks that can be done through automated equipment must be left as such, whilst officers be deployed in areas where personal, human attention is required.
I am aware that there are currently problems with the acceptance of the results of certain equipment in the courts. In particular uncertainty on the acceptance of the evidence produced by breath alcohol equipment in our courts of law should be addressed and clarified as a matter of urgency in order to improve law enforcement on drinking and driving. There is also a need to review the Road Traffic Act in order to tighten ambiguities in this area.
We also need to secure "non acceptance" in the courts - we need to have our equipment accepted (through whatever process necessary) to ensure that cases do not crumble before shrewd defence or our lack of agreed equipment acceptance.
Accident information indicates that the number of traffic accidents is much higher at night and that these accidents account for a substantial portion of the total number of accidents.
The lack of law enforcement or the low intensity of law enforcement in certain areas during the night and over weekends led to a substantial increase in accidents at night and over weekends. A key contributor to the incidence of night time road traffic accidents seems to be the fact that traffic law enforcement is not in every area a round-the-clock (24 hour) service, nor a seven days a week effort. Law enforcement is generally limited to normal office hours and confined to weekdays from Monday to Friday, with a few notable exceptions.
One of the reasons that a 24-hour service is not provided everywhere is a lack of resources. To this effect, some provinces indicated that there is a substantial number of vacant posts within their jurisdiction and, in many cases, the number of available posts is not sufficient to render an effective 24 hour, 7 days per week continuous law enforcement service. It seems as if law enforcement activities are not always targeted at the right places, during the right time of the day, the right day of the month, and on the right type of offence. No programme or project can be effectively planned and undertaken without the continuous collection and analysis of information.
More roadblocks should be conducted on routes and corridors with a high number of accidents in order to improve control of driver and vehicle fitness aspects such as driving licences; driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicle issues such as lights; visibility from the rear; tyres; and general roadworthiness, etc.
Policing of critical moving offences that lead to fatal accidents, such as illegal and unsafe overtaking; ignoring of stop streets and disregard for red traffic lights and speed control of all vehicle types should be more regularly undertaken at times and places on the network where it will have the biggest impact.
Law enforcement should be carried out in accordance with predetermined plans which are based on accident and road traffic offence information. Standards and benchmarks for performance measurement should be set by each and every traffic authority and adequate supervision must be carried out in order to ensure that set targets are met.
Better use should therefore be made of available accident and traffic offence information as a basis for planning and undertaking law enforcement actions. Joint law enforcement actions should be undertaken on a corridor basis in order to prevent duplication of efforts and to optimise the utilisation of scarce resources, which include personnel, equipment, vehicles and funds. Improved co-ordination and co-operation between various enforcement agencies should improve the overall effectiveness of law enforcement in general.
Earlier this year a proposal for an Integrated Law Enforcement and Communication Project was tabled for consideration. The scope of the project includes the development and implementation of a Co-ordinated Business Plan for traffic law-enforcement and support services. This project will seek the elimination of a fragmented approach in this regard and the promotion of a co-operative, uniform and focussed supportive uniform approach towards the undertaking of law enforcement across boundaries. Continuous collection and analysis of information for this purpose will be provided and integrated with an enhanced continuous communication plan with road users. Improved co-operation with other role players, such as the Judiciary will also be addressed.
I am informed that this project is still under consideration by the Road Traffic Management Coordinating Committee (RTMCC) of COTO. I am of the opinion that this project, when implemented, will help to effect a positive approach to law enforcement and I urge the RTMCC to now bring this matter to finalisation as a matter of urgency.
A great number of ideas and proposals will be shared around this room. The issues chosen for the Conference were not haphazardly arrived at. The organisers felt that they were critical to the future of traffic policing in the country. You form an integral part of shaping and moulding the future - therefore, please bring your knowledge, expertise and experience to the table and share and discuss it with all.
During the Conference, there will be ample opportunity to discuss and debate all the issues tabled in the programme. I urge you all to take an active and meaningful part in these discussions. Based on the resolutions from this Conference, my department will be able to better mould national policies and approaches with regard to traffic policing with your assistance and input.
We all want that change to be implemented as soon as possible and are united in saying "business NOT as usual".
How does this aid in brining about a change in the carnage on our roads?
Quite simple: improved effectiveness of traffic policing will provide the all-important backbone for a safe, reliable, effective and efficient transport system.
We are well aware of the restraints holding us back due to personnel levels, scarce financial resources, equipment needs and challenges within the judicial system.
Added to this, are the changes around municipalities and the defining of the role of traffic structures within SALGA.
We need to keep our role in clear perspective throughout.
During the Conference, statements will be made and processes will be discussed, but, more importantly, a glimpse of the future will be given to you.
Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm of what to do and why. Skill is how to do and attitude is the motivation, the burning desire to do. By working on knowledge, skill and desire, we move in an upward spiral of growth and can break through to new levels of personal and professional effectiveness. Since knowledge and information are the keys to opportunity and advancement, success lies in the ability to adapt and a willingness to learn and discover new frontiers.
These frontiers are the future that my department wishes to achieve.
It is a bright future, a bold future. A change. A paradigm change.
Grasp that future.
I wish you a fruitful and enlightening Conference.
I look forward to receiving the resolutions that will take us all to the higher level of professionalism and effectiveness in traffic enforcement that we all are striving for.
I thank you.