Traffic officer students to bolster festive season road safety efforts

A total of 35 eager traffic officer students will be deployed at various Western Cape traffic centres to gain practical experience from 13 December 2017 until 16 January 2018. Their efforts will help law enforcement officials to keep road users safe this festive season.

The students are currently undergoing a 12-month traffic officers’ training course at the Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell, Cape Town.

This week,

• 11 will be deployed at Laingsburg Provincial Traffic Centre,
• six at Vredendal, 
• three at Vredenburg, 
• two at Swellendam, 
• two at Worcester,
• two at Beaufort West,
• one at Mossel Bay,
• six will be deployed at George Municipal Traffic Services, and
• two at Breede Valley Municipal Traffic Services.

During this period, the students will work alongside experienced officials to sharpen their knowledge and know-how. They will also get the opportunity to apply their new skills – such as controlling traffic and systematic inspection of vehicles, as well as application of the National Road Traffic Act – in a high-pressure environment. Their courage may be tested in the course of performing these duties.

The festive season is a time of year when traffic officers and emergency medical officials have their hands full because of the large numbers of vehicles on our roads. Effective and visible traffic law enforcement will help ensure that public transport vehicles are in a roadworthy condition, that drivers meet the legal fitness requirements, and, most importantly, that road users can travel safely to their destinations.