Pilot project launched for AARTO

The new Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Offences Act governing the issuing of fines and the controversial licence points demerit system has been launched with a pilot study in Tswane.

Overseen by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, the Act is expected to have a huge impact on the way South Africans drive. Under the new Act, all drivers will receive their “infringement notices” within five days and have the opportunity to reduce the amount payable by 50% if payment is received within 32 days.

Payments received outside of this period will have to be for the full amount and will incur administrative costs. If, after a series of notices, the payment remains outstanding, the Sheriff of the Court will have the right to seize and sell movable property to cover the debt.

Licence points demerit system

The controversial points demerit system will only be introduced in the national roll out from early 2009, and is not part of the Tswane pilot project. A driver will incur a set number of points for each traffic offence committed. This will be awarded against his/her licence.

After 12 points have been exceeded, an automatic driving ban for a period in months equal to three times the number of points over 12, will be effected.

Should a driver be disqualified a third time, the licence will be permanently revoked. He/she will need to re-apply for a learner’s licence after the disqualification period has elapsed.

Points can be reduced at a rate of one point per three-month period, under the provision that no other demerit points are incurred during that period.

In announcing the pilot project, the RTMC noted a high rate of non-compliance with speed limits and other laws. Only 20% of traffic fines are paid, the agency said.

According to the new Act, fines, which have until now been handled by municipalities, will now cross municipal and provincial borders.

It will also facilitate a tighter collection process, the agency said, as well as generate a reliable revenue stream that will be used to improve road safety.

Visit the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website for a detailed presentation on the historical background to AARTO, or the recently launched AARTO website.

South Africa Road Safety Achievement Award 2008

 I was informed yesterday that the Guild of Motoring Journalists has awarded me with the Road Safety Achievement Award for 2008.

This is indeed a great honor – but something which could not have been done without the assistance of numerous other people and I have to express gratitude towards these people, companies and institutions!

I would like to extend a word of appreciation to the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists for this award.

This should not be seen as an award to me as person but rather as recognition to the efforts to create on-line awareness of road safety

- this includes the Arrive Alive Road Safety website[ www.arrivealive.co.za] , the road safety blog [ www.roadsafety.wordpress.com] the Facebook group as well as the mobile road safety website [ arrivealive.mobi].

This would not have been possible without the kind support of Nelio and the developers at Chillies [Charl / Pierre] as well as the other programmers and graphic artists over the past 5 years.

A word of appreciation to all the other road safety enthusiasts who have assisted with support, advice on how to enhance road safety awareness - and especially to those corporate sponsors of the Arrive Alive Website who have shared the vision of creating awareness of road safety!

Also a word of appreciation to the Department of Transport, the Road Traffic Management Corporation, GRSP and all the NGO’s who contributed to creating road safety awareness.

Lastly I would like to dedicate this award to the memory of those beloved family and friends who have inspired us to commit our time and efforts to the objective of saving lives on our roads!

May the creation of awareness through the internet and social media contribute to greater road safety!

5 killed and 56 others injured in R59 bus smash.

At approximately 19h20 on Saturday 28 June 2008, Netcare 911 paramedics responded to reports of a very serious collision on the R59 between Johannesburg and Vereeniging close to the Kliprivier offramp outside of Alberton.
 
It appears that a bakkie and a car were involved in a fatal head-on smash and then a double decker bus overturned about 100m past the initial collision. Paramedics attended to a total of 61 patients at the scene: 5 people died at the scene, 8 were in a critical condition and 48 others were treated for various injuries ranging from mild to serious. Fire fighters had to use the “jaws of life” to free victims from the car as well as the bus. The patients were transported by ambulances to the Natalspruit, Kopanong, Chris Hani Baragwaneth, Netcare Union, Sebokeng and Midvaal hospitals.
Initially their was a veldt fire on the side of the road but it is unclear if that played a role in the incident.
 
The bus company arranged for another bus to come to the scene to remove a few of the passengers that were not injured and did not go to hospital.
 
This incident was attended to by paramedics from the private and provincial ambulance services, fire department, Metro Police and their specialist Accident Investigation Unit.
At this time the R59 travelling from Johannesburg towards Vereeniging is still closed to traffic at the Kliprivier offramp and police are diverting traffic around the scene and it is unclear how long it will take to clear the road.

[ Information provided by Netcare 911 to the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog]

8 Killed in early morning M1 head-on smash

At approximately 02h23 on Monday morning 30 June 2008, Netcare 911 paramedics responded to a report of a very serious collision on the M1 south both just past the Xavier offramp, Johannesburg.

Paramedics arrived to find that two cars (a sedan and a hatchback) were involved in a high impact head-on collision. Paramedics attended to a total of ten patients at the scene, three in each car and four that were lying in the road. Eight people including a young child died of their injuries at the scene and two others were in a critical condition. They were stabilised by paramedics at the scene and have been transported by Netcare 911 ambulances to the Chris Hani Baragwaneth and Netcare Milpark hospital for further assessment and treatment.

All four lanes of the M1 south bound travelling from Gold Reef City towards Southgate were closed to traffic and motorists were being diverted at the Xavier offramp. The bodies of the victims were trapped within the wrecks and fire fighters had use the “jaws of life” to free them.

This incident was attended to by Netcare 911, provincial fire and ambulance services and the SAPS.

[ Information provided by Netcare 911 to the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog]

NETCARE 911
Emergency No. 082 911

Sense what your vehicle is telling you

Vehicle maintenance is best left in the hands of trained professionals – those people who know what parts are which and where they fit inside your vehicle! There are however a few basics that every motorist should know…When researching bits and pieces about vehicle maintenance for the Arrive Alive road safety website, I have come across some interesting information about vehicles and how they tell their owners that they are in dire need of maintenance.

By close observation and using our senses we can identify weaknesses and potential dangers. Through sight we can spot damaged tyres and the need for wheel alignment and balancing. Through touch and feel we can determine whether we have worn shocks as well as steering problems.

The most interesting observations and communication from our vehicles might be that which we can determines from smelling and listening/ hearing. Strange clicks and knocking sounds point towards the dangers of potential eminent vehicle break – down, whereas a variety of smells might point towards important engine components burning.

The Arrive Alive website has provided more insight on the possible causes of different smells and sounds under a section “Vehicle Maintenance and Road Safety”. The only sense that I could not identify as a possible tool in the tool box is the sense of taste. But perhaps the taste of satisfaction after a quality drive might count as well…..!!

Do South Africans care enough to make that difference?

Last year at the Make Roads Safe conference was the first time I listened to an address by Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu. He made a remark that I have taken to heart, and I quote: “God did not create a perfect world - he wanted us to be part of making it perfect”. Shortly after the conference I reflected on this in a blog post titled “South Africans helping South Africans out”. This was aimed at emphasizing the need for us all to “pay it forward” and contribute to the well-being of other South Africans.

Earlier today I shared a few emails with a representative from the Movement for Good and was once more reminded of the story written last year. This campaign is managed by Brand South Africa and will involve all South Africans in an effort to collectively create the South Africa that we all want.

The past 12 months was a rather challenging time for South Africans and for Brand South Africa. We have felt the impact of economical pressures through rising petrol prices and interest rates and witnessed both trouble on our northern borders and xenophobia within South Africa. Where we should be looking forward to reconciliation, progress and moving on from the past to a more unified South Africa, we have been reading about bad news and investigation after investigation, enquiry after enquiry…

Why don’t we read more about the good stories – about South Africans helping South Africans? Some say that only sensationalism and blood sells the papers – but I wish to disagree. We are all in need of the teary eye ever so often – a truly good story such as a South African World Cup Victory - or even just the small ‘Reach for a Dream” boy walking unto the pitch and having his dream fulfilled.

What can be achieved if each South African decides to support at least one good cause? I believe exactly that South Africa that we all want to live in! To make that difference does not require wealth – it can be a contribution of time, talent and effort.

And what do we expect in return – and should we even expect something in return? I would like to refer to such a helping hand [or feet] to be extended for charity in July and which is highlighted on the website of Extramilecharity.co.za. The answer should be “ Zills, nada, zero….except for a warm fuzzy feeling in your stomach that you have made a difference in another persons’ life!”

May we as South Africans care enough to make that difference every day – to help our fellow South Africans – and may we be blessed with that warm fuzzy feeling that we are all South Africans contributing and making South Africa more perfect!

National Road Safety Convention held to curb accidents

June 25, 2008

Over 150 youth representative from all over the country met for the National Road Safety Convention in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, today. The convention, organised by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, was aimed at coming up with safety strategies for road users, especially the youth.

Statistics indicate that about 600 to 1 000 young people aged between 16 and 25 lose their lives to road carnage annually.

Road accidents cost government about 2% of its gross domestic product annually. It is estimated that road injuries are the main cause of death in youth between 10 and 24 years of age. The Road Traffic Management Corporation says law enforcers are letting road users down.

Transport authorities say the youth, being the most affected by road carnage, have an obligation to uphold road safety.

At the end of the convention, delegates were expected come up with resolutions and also hand in a declaration of intent to the Transport Ministry. The resolutions taken during this convention will be used to formulate a policy framework to help curb road carnage.

Yorkshire Water selects C-Track for fleet optimization

Successful trial achieves productivity and efficiency benefits

Yorkshire Water – the leading utility water company within the UK providing water and waste water services to more than 4.7million people and 140,000 businesses – has appointed DigiCore to install a sophisticated vehicle tracking solution across its fleet of technicians vehicles. The phased roll-out of DigiCore’s C-track system follows a detailed 12-month trial involving 60 vehicles that has demonstrated widespread fleet benefits including increased productivity, reduced fuel usage and enhanced customer service.

The pilot scheme has achieved added visibility and control enabling Yorkshire Water to increase the optimisation of technicians working in the field, including a rise in the number of completed jobs per day by up to 13.5 per cent. Furthermore, there has been a significant reduction in the time it took office-based schedulers to identify a suitable technician, as well as a 30 per cent improvement in emergency response times.

Elsewhere, Yorkshire Water experienced an increase in the miles travelled per litre of fuel, with an average increase of approximately 12.5 per cent. This added fuel efficiency has not only reduced overheads, but also realised substantial environmental benefits. Through the duration of the trial, fuel usage was cut by almost 3,500 litres, with savings in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 9 tonnes.

The bespoke system was also designed to provide added safety and protection to mobile workforce and resources. Each vehicle has been fitted with panic alarms to enable technicians to request assistance. In addition, the access to detailed real-time and historical positional data provides proof of location for insurance claims and aid effective accident analysis. This information will also support vehicle location and recovery in cases of theft.

Geoff Dyson, Icom Field Operations Team Leader at Yorkshire Water commented: “C-track has provided real benefits to our fleet operation, resulting in operating efficiencies and an enhanced service to our customers. Yorkshire Water is committed to adopting advanced techniques and technologies to maintain our position as the leading water utility company within the UK.”

Tom O’Connor, Managing Director of DigiCore Ltd said: “This detailed evaluation and adoption of the C-track shows the measurable benefits that can be achieved by using the system. The advanced nature of C-track enables the development of bespoke solutions that meet the diverse needs of our customers and achieve definite returns on investment.”

C-track is a sophisticated fleet management system that adopts the latest technology to provide a comprehensive real-time vehicle management tool. This proven solution provides vital information about mobile assets and workforce, and offers a scaleable mobile solution that meets the complex needs of car, van and commercial vehicle fleet operators.

DigiCore Holdings is a Johannesburg Stock Exchange Listed group, a global company with more than 22 years’ experience developing and implementing end-to-end vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions. Its advanced C-track technology is fitted to almost 340,000 vehicles operating in 32 countries across 5 continents.

DigiCore Group works in partnership with its customers to develop solutions that deliver measurable business and operational benefits by providing total visibility and control of mobile assets and mobile work forces. DigiCore utilises a range of vehicle location, fleet management, satellite navigation and security tools, to provide commercial vehicle, van and car fleet operators with scaleable solutions that offer flexibility, reliability and functionality.

[Digicore Group is one of the sponsors of the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website]

A few suggestions for the Arrive Alive Campaign

The Arrive Alive website appreciates responses and involvement from the public in the efforts to create awareness of road safety. Earlier today an email was received with a few interesting observations, and I would like to quote from this email:

“ Hi, I have mentioned this to you some time ago - your website is great and awesomely informative. All the links to whoever and wherever are available.

I would however like to know who devises the Arrive Alive Strateg(y)ies because it still receives a lot of flack, whether it is justified could be a matter for dispute? I am of the opinion that we need to re-educate our Citizens (and I’m not saying only Drivers) because we are in this together.

The approach we are adopting seems to be more punitive than corrective and we are losing sight of some of the “baggage” of the past which is unfortunately intertwined amongst the fruits of our beautiful Democracy. It would be nice to take everybody along in this process to make it one of credibility and integrity. Perhaps we need to adopt a piece-meal approach which will in fact fast track our efforts to enforce by virtue of respect. Hence my suggestion to re-educate by focusing on the basics.

Rules and signs change as conditions warrant it, but when you have people already in the system, what do you do? We need to apply ourselves creatively to have our Citizens want to participate in a vibrant and enriching culture of learning with the intent to sustain their livelihoods. Our methods need to be lucrative enough to beat the practices of corruption and non-compliance

After all South Africa is alive with possibilities and your website is a definite proof thereof - the vision to be the required change.

I look forward to your reply.”

The Arrive Alive website is an effort to assist Government and NGO’s in creating awareness of road safety. This has been our passion for the past 5 years and is now supported by the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog, a Group on Facebook as well as the mobile road safety website on arrivealive.mobi.

Arrive Alive is the name of the road safety campaign managed by the Department of Transport and more recently also by the Road Traffic Management Corporation. We would like to invite the public to share their suggestions on how to better define this campaign and enhance road safety!

How do I become a Paramedic?

Paramedics perform vital life saving activities on our roads. The Arrive Alive website and this blog are updated regularly on the latest accidents and emergency evacuations – and the public often participate in their responses to these stories.

In 2007 we posted a story under the title “A day in the life of a South African Paramedic.” Many positive responses from the public followed this blog story and several youngsters have since enquired as to how they can become paramedics.

I raised a few questions with the experts from Netcare 911 to assist these youngsters in their quest to consider this career. The information provided include the following:

There are 3 major divisions or qualifications (Basic, intermediate and advanced life support) of emergency care practitioners at present in South Africa. All emergency care practitioners register with the regulatory body - the Health Professions Council of South Africa - This body lays down the requirements for training institutions and scope of practice.

There are two routes to becoming a advanced life support paramedic at present, one is to pursue the in service training route of obtaining a qualification then gaining practical work experience before progressing to the next level of training. The alternative is to enter a B-Tech program at one of the universities presenting the curriculum and exiting 4 years later with a advanced life support qualification.

In-service training:

1st Qualification - Basic Life support (BAA)

This course is presented over a 6 week period and at the conclusion of the course the successful candidate can administer oxygen and oral glucose, they are proficient in CPR and AED use, delivering a baby and safely extricating a patient from a motor vehicle accident. They are trained in the management of medical conditions as well as how to treat a trauma patient. This qualification is the entry level requirement for those who want to work in the emergency medical services. Netcare911’s School of Emergency and Critical Care presents this course at all of our 3 campuses in Midrand, Durban and Nelspruit.

2nd Qualification - Intermediate Life Support (AEA)

This course is presented over a 13 week period and includes a 6 week practical rotation. At the conclusion of the course the successful candidate in addition to all the BLS skills can perform ECG monitoring and defibrillation as well as performing several invasive life saving techniques. They are allowed to administer life saving inhalation as well as intra venous medications. This qualification is the entry level requirement for those who want to work in the emergency medical services. Netcare911’s School of Emergency and Critical Care presents this course at two of our 3 campuses in Midrand and Durban.

3rd Qualification - Advanced Life Support (CCA)

The CCA course is presented at the SECC’s Midrand campus over 10 months. The ALS course is exceptionally challenging and the successful candidate will be able to handle any emergency with confidence.

[Visitors to the Road Safety & Arrive Alive Blog are invited to respond and raise their questions on any specific aspect that might require further clarification. A word of appreciation to Netcare 911 for the information provided.]