According to the departmental Chief Director of Traffic Management, Lehana Leeto, these officials will also be complemented by members of the police who will be deployed across major roads in the province. 

Leeto says 233 departmental vehicles and 18 vehicles from the RTMC will also be deployed to patrol roads across the province. 

Meanwhile, launching the provincial 2022 Easter Road Safety Campaign, MEC William Bulwane issued a stern warning to motorists travelling to their various destinations this Easter weekend.

ALSO READ: Free State road users warned ahead of Easter festivities

"It is everybody's responsibility, it's not only ours as traffic officials but everybody's responsibility. I want to take this opportunity to call on motorists whose driver's licences expired to use this grace period to renew their licences," Bulwane said.

The campaign seeks to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and prevent negligent and reckless driving on roads during this period.

The Easter holiday is a time when the province experiences high volumes of traffic due to people travelling to visit their families and friends, and attend special church services associated with this time of the year.

"The Free State Province network is at the centre of the country and connects six other provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, as well as the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. This period exposes the province to a high risk of road crashes and fatalities," Bulwane further added.

Bulwane announced during a media briefing that in October 2021, the United Nations (UN) proclaimed the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 with the target of a 50% reduction in road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030.

OFM News