The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) extends its warmest wishes to all workers for a joyful and peaceful Easter. We wish workers and students safe travel to their respective destinations; be it home to see family or to their respective religious denominations and congregations.
SAFTU urges everyone to prioritise their safety and the safety of other road users during their travels. Whether they are driving, flying, or using public transport, we urge them to take extra precautions and adhere to traffic regulations. These are the only measures to guarantee safe travel and the safety of other road users.
The other factor that has become a serious problem on our roads apart from disregarding traffic regulations has been road-rage. The government, on its official campaign website, Arrive Alive, says that road rage has become a major threat to safe driving. In statistics by the South African Police Services (SAPS), road rage is cited as one of the factors contributing to both murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
It is our responsibility as workers to exercise emotional intelligence and patience on the roads and avoid defensive driving. If we canβt use class solidarity, letβs use humanly solidarity to ensure ourselves and all road users are safe. Considering that road rage could lead to regrettable conduct that leads to arrest and possible incarceration, we must exercise restraint to avoid jail and criminal records. Such could even ruin our jobs as workers.
