Chairperson, today, as a select committee, we are tabling a very important piece of legislation, taking into account particularly the time of the presentation of the Bill itself. It is the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill which, in the main, proposes to seek to give effect, in the short term, to some of the principle strategies contained in the Road to Safety 2001-2005 plan.
The Bill implements the strategic intervention highlighted in the Road to Safety strategy. Furthermore, it deals with fraudulent activities with regard to the issuance of driving licences and roadworthy certificates, and with curbing incidences of criminal activity by or in relation to motor vehicles or their operation on public roads.
The Bill amends certain definitions and also provides some definitions. It is important that as a select committee, whilst we take note that the report has been printed in the ATCs, we note or mention in the House that, seeing that we will be going into the festive season, this is one of the pieces of legislation that seeks to assist the Department of Transport, particularly in enhancing the Arrive Alive campaign. As we know, many of the accidents that are fatal are, in some instances, as a result of drivers who have driving licences that were acquired fraudulently or vehicles that are not roadworthy being used on our roads.
It is, therefore, with this piece of legislation that we are trying to bring back some sanity to our drivers and our society, to ensure that we love our lives, and also assist those who might be reckless and ensure that, at the end of the day, everybody is safe during the festive season.
As the select committee we are hoping that hon members and also their families, friends and everybody else will adhere to these proposals, even if they have not yet been enacted, to ensure that everybody arrives alive during the festive season. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
ABSTAIN: KwaZulu- Natal.
Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.