The Provincial Road Incident Management system has initiated its Festive Season Arrive Alive campaign at a Shell Ultra Pit stop in Bloemfontein to promote road safety. This effort follows a concerning November in the Free State, where over 23 lives were lost in road incidents within three weeks. Authorities emphasize collaboration between emergency services and law enforcement to reduce fatalities during the holiday period.
The launch of the Festive Season Arrive Alive campaign by the Provincial Road Incident Management (PRIM) took place at the Shell Ultra Pit stop along the N1 in Bloemfontein. The initiative seeks to bolster partnerships among emergency and law enforcement agencies, fostering safer roads, healthier communities, and greater public awareness amid the holiday rush.
November proved deadly on Free State roads, with more than 23 fatalities recorded in just three weeks, primarily from car crashes. Analysis reveals most incidents occur between midnight and early morning hours. Chief Director for Traffic Lehana Leeto highlighted the risks, urging drivers to refrain from unnecessary overtaking to prevent head-on collisions. He noted that pedestrians constitute over half of road death victims and stressed the province's role as a transit hub. "The Free State is a province where everybody is passing through and we want to make sure that everybody in the Free State is safe," Leeto said. "Our plans are going to cater for pedestrians and also the motorists, because road safety begins with you and me."
Leeto further advised pedestrians to wear light-colored clothing at night for better visibility, with increased monitoring to ensure safety. Motorists at the launch shared positive experiences: one described roads as busy yet manageable after departing at 5 a.m., calling for speed vigilance; another praised the smooth toll roads via e-tag and the visible presence of police and emergency personnel.
Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Sipho Towa underscored the benefits of inter-agency collaboration under the theme 'safer together, stronger together, let’s communicate.' This arrangement ensures 24-hour law enforcement availability, particularly for nighttime accidents between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., and promotes resource sharing to avoid duplication. Travelers received safety tips, free health check-ups, and advice to rest after driving more than two hours or 200 km.
