As the festive season approaches, a surge in road traffic often leads to increased risk for vulnerable road users, especially scooter delivery drivers.
In light of this, the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA), in collaboration with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the Gauteng South African Police, launched a vital campaign this year aimed at reducing the number of road accidents involving scooter drivers.
The campaign found its focal point at Rivonia Village, where a gathering of concerned scooter delivery drivers listened closely to law enforcement officials and road safety stakeholders about the critical importance of adhering to road rules.
According to TETA, which has observed a troubling rise in fatalities among scooter drivers due to a lack of awareness and reckless behaviours, this campaign is both timely and essential. Haremakale Ramakhetheng, TETA’s special projects unit manager, addressed the attendees, expressing the pressing need to address the alarming trend.
“We have been around the country doing similar activations involving all other road users. With this one, targeting scooter drivers, we are saying enough is enough. We are trying to make our drivers aware that they should consider that there are other road users on the road and their lives are at stake. We urge them to obey the rules of the road and take responsibility for their lives and the lives of other road users,” she stated.
However, compliance isn’t the only issue faced by scooter drivers. Accounts of bullying from other motorists, particularly taxi drivers, have emerged from the community. These experiences were underscored by Jimmy Ndlovu, a novice in the delivery sector, who recently encountered a harrowing near-miss when a bus driver forced him off the road, leaving visible injuries.
“You can see I am injured. I am glad that this was not a major injury as the accident happened while I was driving,” he recounted. Ndlovu, originally from Zimbabwe, spoke of his improved earnings in the delivery business, currently making between R4 000 to R5 000 weekly, a significant change from the R3 500 he previously earned as a waiter.
Similarly, Nkosikhona Ngcobo, from Durban, echoed excitement for the campaign. He described taxi drivers as “the biggest bullies” on South Africa’s roads, stressing the need for respect towards scooter drivers. “Luckily, I have not had an accident as I drive with a clear vision to always stay safe,” he affirmed, illustrating the precarious balance between financial necessity and personal safety that many drivers navigate.
This campaign comes shortly after the National Department of Transport launched its own festive outreach initiative, a clear signal of the growing urgency surrounding road safety in South Africa. With more than 10,000 lives lost on South Africa’s roads in 2024 alone, as stated by Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, it is crucial that all road users, especially those at heightened risk, are properly educated and protected.
The Star