South Africa has an unacceptable road accident record, and it is therefore of critical importance that the country establishes national targets that must be pursued by all role players. It is acknowledged that traffic law enforcement is currently fragmented and decentralised. The Road Traffic Management Corporation has the mandate to set national targets and to ensure that every stakeholder in the road safety sphere pursue these targets and to align their strategies, tactical and operational plans towards these goals.
The tactical and operational activities of traffic law enforcement authorities shall as far as possible be aligned to the stated national priorities. Targets refer to outcomes and not enforcement outputs i.e. the number of traffic prosecutions per issuing officer and must therefore not be equated to traffic ticket quotas. Performance management and measurement (police productivity issues) are dealt with separately in this Code.
The setting of targets by each traffic law enforcement authority is critical to ensure that these agencies pursue objectives that collectively contribute to minimising accident risks and to establish and maintain law and order on the country’s road network.
Objectives must be synchronised with national imperatives set by the Corporation. Targets must be reasonable, achievable and aligned to national enforcement imperatives. The focus of targets must be to develop measurable output and outcomes for road safety.
| 1.1 | Principles for setting targets |
| (a) | Targets must be set in a manner that they are perceived as being fair and in the interest of creating safer conditions on the country’s roads. |
| (b) | The targets must be reasonable to traffic officers, i.e. in terms of the variety of law enforcement activities and with due regard to identified risk factors. |
| (c) | Emphasis must be placed on: specific high-risk factors such as:— |
| (i) | Impaired Driving which includes alcohol abuse, drug abuse, distracted driving and fatigue |
| (ii) | Dangerous Driving which includes excessive speed, dangerous overtaking and all moving violations |
| (iii) | Occupants Safety which includes front and rear seatbelts, child restraints |
| (iv) | Public Transport and Loads Management, |
| (v) | Vulnerable road users which includes visibility, drinking and walking, jay walking, distracted walking and crossing on freeways |
| (vi) | Vehicle and driver fitness which include roadworthiness and documentation. |
| (d) | Each traffic law enforcement authority shall keep an accurate record of the actual inspections, activities and prosecutions instituted by an officer, by using an inspection report/template prescribed for this purpose. |
| (e) | The targets should be linked to performance management system and must be designed for simplicity of administration. |
| (f) | Officers who perform exceptionally well may in relation to their peers, be recognised and incentivised as per National Annual Road Traffic Management Incentive Framework. |
