‘Joe Public’ all for the ban

While there may be very few
people in the freight industry
who agree with Transport
Minister Dipuo Peters on
the truck ban, Joe Public is
increasingly agreeing with
her, says Terry Bantock,
executive chairman of Diesel
Power Open Cast Mining.
“We need to understand
their reasoning if we want to
strengthen our case against
the proposal.”
The general public has for
some time been calling on
the transport department to
address the high number of
trucks on the roads during
peak hours. Several highprofile
accidents involving
trucks – including one in
which Collins Chabane,
minister of public service,
was killed – have heightened
negativity towards trucks.
“The public feel that
this legislation is needed
because many believe that
trucks cause accidents,” said
Bantock. “And once this
becomes legislated it will be
near impossible to change.”
According to Gavin
Kelly, spokesman for
the RFA, it is becoming
increasingly apparent that
the RFA and its members
are going to have to work
harder at gaining the trust
and understanding of the
public on the significant
role trucking plays in the
country.
“Without trucks South
Africa does stop. It is a
message that we as an
industry understand but we
are going to have to ensure
more of the general public
understands the significant
impact it will have on their
lives when trucks are taken
off the roads for six hours
every day,” he said.