Upgraded Facilities to Improve Training and Enhance Traffic Safety

Better facilities at the Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell will improve Western Cape traffic safety and facilitate the training of traffic officers. An upgrade to the K53 track and a new vehicle testing centre are scheduled for completion in August 2015.

The project, valued at R26 million, started in April 2014. The office space and the lecture rooms at Gene Louw have also been improved in recent months. Students at the college have to travel to the Paarl Driving Licence Testing Centre for K53 practical training but that will change when the new track at the college is complete.

The Department will be using the testing centre for training and other joint operations.

Head of College Farrel Payne was glad that all necessary facilities will now be on the premises.

“These facilities are being upgraded for the first time since the college opened 25 years ago. To enhance training, the facilities will be equipped with modern equipment and technology. We will be able to train traffic officers and examiners we can be proud of,” he said.

Payne added that the testing centre will also be used by the Department’s Transport Administration and Licensing component to retest drivers and motor vehicles. The old testing centre will still be used for training. It is envisaged that learner transport vehicles under contract to the Western Cape Education Department will be inspected at the new testing centre.

To promote road safety, the college will be hosting a number of annual events on the track. The college also plans to conduct free vehicle tests for members of the public before the Easter and December holiday periods.

Vehicles found to have faults will not be discontinued or impounded to give motorists time to rectify all the problems that have been identified.

• View more photos of the Gene Louw Traffic College campus upgrades.