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Vaalweekblad, 26 - 28 Oktober 2011
Vat die pad
Motor of motorfiets? Jannie du Plessis
Motorfietse het die afgelope jare met die wisselvallige brandstofpryse wat tans op R10.36/l staan, die alternatiewe vervoer geword en orals op ons land se paaie ry jonk en oud met motorfietse rond. Die gebruiklike busse, treine, vliegtuie en huurmotors het deesdae te duur geword en motorfietsvervoer bly nog steeds een van die goedkoopste. Net in London, Engeland alleen oor die afgelope tien jaar het tweewiel vervoer met sowat 40% vermeerder. Dit is ‘n goeie 16 000 tweewiel- motorfietse elke dag wat in London rondry. Vir Vaaldriehoekers en veral die skool gaande jongelinge wat die ouderdom van 16 bereik het, is die status om wiele onder jou agterstewe te hê, enigeen se droom. Vir die wat egter nog te jonk is vir ‘n motortjie of wanneer die spaargeldjies min is, is ‘n motorfiets of bromponie die uitweg. Menige ouers sien dit ook as ‘n uitweg om die mamma se huurmotor, “moms Taxi”, te spaar vir elke dag se oggend en middag ryery. Wat meeste ouers egter bekommer, is die gevaarfaktor wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Ons land se paaie is nie meer wat dit was nie en met minibusse wat feitlik vertiendubbel het, is ons paaie nie meer die veiligste nie. Inteendeel, ons ongeluksyfers vergelyk met van die hoogstes in
die wêreld. Nogtans is daar motorfietsryers wat hul hele lewe, dis nou self oor die ouderdom van 80, wat nog nooit in ‘n ongeluk betrokke was nie. Die geheim is om die regte houding aan te neem. Elke motorfietsryer op ons land se paaie het presies dieselfde regte as ‘n motor met net ‘n paar beperkings. ‘n Paar hiervan is die minimum van 125cc op ons snelweë en dat geen passasier vervoer mag word met ‘n leerlinglisensie nie. Jou houding jeens die stuk yster onder jou en medepadgebruikers is die grootste faktor buiten spoed wat ongelukke veroorsaak. Elkeen eien die pad aan homself toe en basta met die res! Veiligheid en veilig bestuur is die motorfiets ryer se beste kans op oorlewing. ‘n Paar goue reëls van die wyse manne is om altyd ‘n verkeerslig of stopteken stadig te nader en veilig te verlaat. Moenie kanse vat nie. ‘n Motorfiets veral in die nag kan teen agtergrondligte verwar word en motoriste se woorde in ‘n ongeluk; “ek het hom nie gesien nie”, word ‘n realiteit as jy die een is wat nie raakgesien word nie. Die tweede reël is sigbaarheid. Wat jy aantrek en jou motorfiets se sigbaarheid bepaal jou sigbaarheid op die pad. Helder kleure en veral weerkaatsings op jou kleredrag asook om dag en nag met jou ligte aan te ry, verhoog jou sigbaarheid. Reël drie is: ry asof jy ‘n motor bestuur.
‘n Daaglikse verskynsel op ons land se paaie. Mamma, tannie of ouma op ‘n bromponie met handsakkie en al, op pad werk toe.
Ry in die middel van ‘n baan. Moenie tussen verkeer deurvleg nie. Dit het reeds baie ongelukke veroorsaak. Motorspieëls is grotendeels ontwerp om ander motoriste raak te sien. ‘n Motoris kan nie sewe ligte (drie motors en een motorfiets) in die nag binne oomblikke onderskei nie. Dit word dan as ‘n motor gesien terwyl jy as motorfietsryer tussen die motors deurvleg. Die uitslag is egter dat motorfietse en
bromponies net vir sekere mense werk. Vergelyk jy die meer gereelde onderhouds koste, korter lewensduur van die kleiner motorfietse of bromponies, uitspattige motor fietsklerasie, die huidige tolstelsel wat lopende koste kan opjaag en verskeie ander faktore soos die houding van die motorfiets-pendelaar, bly dit ‘n groot besluit om oor te skakel na ‘n motorfiets of bromponie.
Left, right and left again saves lives Transportation has always played a big role in the history of mankind and it is doubtful that Nicolas Joseph Cugnot, who built the first automobile in 1769, could have predicted the role it would play in the day-to-day life of modern man. Unfortunately, in today’s hustle and bustle and sometimes seemingly endless traffic jams, vehicles are forced to share the highways and byways with pedestrians. Left, right and left again.
These are some of the words and phrases that should be drilled into all preschool learners. Others are - “Never step into a road unless you plan to walk over a Zebra, referring to the famously black-and-white striped pedestrian crossing, not to mention catchphrases like “Green means go and Red means no!!!” These terms are set up toward safety etiquette when using the roads as a pedestrian. ER24 has seen a sudden influx in pedestrianrelated collisions in the past few weeks and
has attended to 247 pedestrian accidents in the last month. One of the more recent incidents occurred in Cape Town when two pedestrians were struck at high speed while walking next to the N1 highway near the Okavango offramp. One of the men died at the scene and the other was left with various injuries. Paramedics who attended the scene noted that this specific area is known for high-speed pedestrian accidents as pedestrians are known to cross the busy highway at that point. On the same day, the ER24 Discovery Medicopter
was dispatched to assist with transportation of a seriously-injured patient who had sustained broken bones in both of his legs. The 35-year-old male was struck by a vehicle as he was attempting to cross the R59 Highway in Meyerton. Most of the fatal pedestrian accidents involve pedestrians crossing a busy freeway at any given time during the day. Contributing factors like a lack of education and alcohol abuse may play a role in the large number of pedestrian-related vehicle collisions around South Africa.
Trotse nuwe eienaar Precautions when using the roads ER24 spokesperson Andre Visser would like to advise all pedestrians and road-users on the following precautions when using the roads around the country. Always cross the road at a designated crossing point like an elevated freeway walkway, a zebra- or humped pedestrian crossing, or a robot activated crossing. Look left, right and left again to ensure that all traffic has come to a complete stop before stepping into the road. Wear visible or reflective clothing when walking, jogging or standing next to a road or freeway. Motorists should utilise their headlights even in daylight to improve visibility of pedestrians, also giving pedestrians a better chance of seeing an approaching vehicle. Drivers should pay attention to their surroundings and drive pre-emptively to avoid hitting pedestrians walking next to or on the roads. As December approaches and the temperature rises, more individuals will be seen outside enjoying the pleasant weather. Slippers will be swapped for running shoes and boots will be swapped for flip flops as joggers and beachgoers enjoy their great outdoors. Drivers and pedestrians should be mindful of each other, as an unexpected run-in may be devastating.
Me. Riana van der Merwe is die trotse eienaar van die heel eerste nuwe Hyundai Accent 1.6 wat in die Vaaldriehoek verkoop is. Die asemrowende nuwe Accent 1.6 se sleutel is oorhandig deur mnr. André Kruger, verkoopsbestuurder by Hyundai Vereeniging. Besoek gerus Hyundai Vereeniging op die hoek van Rhodeslaan en Unionstraat om die nuwe Accent te besigtig of te toetsbestuur, of skakel (016) 430 7700 vir enige navrae.