Overview
The Transport Month campaign is an annual feature on the calendar of the Department of Transport and is one the platforms and vehicles through which the department engages directly with its stakeholders.An effective Transport system has a significant impact on both the economic and social fabric of our country. It influences the economy in many ways, through its impact on the efficiency of business operations and labour mobility and, for its citizens, the attractiveness of South Africa as a place in which to live and prosper.Transport Month was first launched in October 2005. It seeks to raise awareness of the important role of transport in the economy, and to invite participation from civic society and business, in providing a safer, more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system for the country.
The specific objectives of October Transport Month are to:
- Make people aware of the role of transport in growing and developing our economy, and its importance to our citizens in their everyday lives
- Highlight important challenges in building an effective, safe, affordable, accessible and reliable transport system
- Promote the use of public transport in order to reduce traffic congestion
- Promote a greater awareness of road safety behaviour for both users of vehicles, and for pedestrians
2012 Transport Month Programme
| DATE | ACTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 October 2012 | Launch of Transport Month (Bloemfontein) & Educational Road block (N1 Bloemfontein) | |||
| 5 October 2012 | Interprovincial Road block (N3 Villiers) | |||
| 9 October 2012 | Visit to Road construction site of Warden – Standerton road (Warden) | |||
| 12 October 2012 | Interprovincial Road block (N8 Petrusburg) | |||
| 16 October 2012 | Road block (N1 Kroonstad) | |||
| 18 October 2012 | Showcasing Women in Construction (Bloemfontein ) | |||
| 19 October 2012 | Public Transport Day – promoting the use of public transport (Bloemfontein) | |||
| 26 October 2012 | Road block (N8 Maseru) | |||
| 28 October 2012 | Sod Turning event: Harrismith Freight Logistic Hub (Harrismith) & Launch of Maluti Bus empowerment deal (Phuthaditjhaba) | |||
| 1 November 2012 | Road block (N1 Ventersburg) | |||
2011 Transport Month
The Free State Department’s programme of the 2011 Transport Month covered four broad areas, namely;
- Transport initiatives that have a positive impact on all modes of transport.
- Investment made to create jobs and expand services and infrastructure particularly in rural areas
- Raise awareness on the important role that transport plays in the economy of the country
- Raise awareness on measures taken to improve Road Safety.
Activities undertaken during Transport Month included;
- An Educational Roadblock was held at Ladybrand Maseru Border Post
- Enforcing traffic regulations at Harrismith. During this operation, more than 250 trucks were screened and 67 were impounded for various violations. R90 000 was collected from those who paid spot fines.
During Transport Month (October 2011), officials stopped and checked 30 177 vehicles and drivers, 2623 trucks were checked and taken to weigh bridges in the province, 2 104 drivers were prosecuted for speeding and 4 drunk drivers were arrested.