The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and AWARE.org have strengthened their partnership to promote responsible road use and reduce drinking and driving through a joint road safety initiative in Pretoria.
The handover of educational and promotional materials took place at the TMPD Headquarters, before officials and delegates travelled to a roadblock on Kgosi Mampuru Street, where responsible drinking and road safety messaging was shared directly with motorists.
The initiative forms part of AWARE.org’s Don’t Drink and Drive programme, which focuses on reducing alcohol-related harm through education, behaviour change and partnerships with law enforcement agencies. The materials will support TMPD’s efforts to reinforce responsible road use and encourage motorists to make safer choices before getting behind the wheel.
Road safety remains a significant challenge in Tshwane. According to the City of Tshwane, the metro accounts for 24% of all road fatalities in Gauteng, while pedestrians account for 43% of all road deaths in the city. The figures underline the importance of sustained road safety interventions that combine public education with visible enforcement.
Speaking during the handover, AWARE.org CEO Mokebe Thulo said partnerships between organisations and law enforcement agencies are essential in addressing alcohol-related harm.
“Partnerships like this are central to our approach because alcohol harm is a whole-of-society issue. Through our Don’t Drink and Drive pillar, we want to combine education and behaviour change with visible enforcement. TMPD allows us to take that work directly onto the roads and support the people who are responsible for keeping those roads safe.”
Thulo said taking road safety messaging directly to motorists is important because it reaches people closer to the point where decisions are being made.
“We need to reach people as close as possible to the point where choices are being made. It’s one thing to see a road safety message in a campaign, but it becomes much more immediate when you encounter it on the road. We want motorists to think ahead: if you’re going to drink, plan how you’re getting home before you start drinking. That simple decision can save lives.”
MMC for Community Safety, Alderman H Coetzee, said partnerships between government and responsible corporate citizens strengthen road safety efforts by extending important messages beyond enforcement activities.
“The rule of law on our roads is upheld most effectively when institutions of state and responsible corporate citizens act in concert. Compliance with road traffic law is not merely a matter of policing, but of civic order.”
TMPD Chief Commissioner Yolande Faro said initiatives such as this one play an important role in strengthening road safety by combining education with visible enforcement.
“Targeted operations like this increase the perceived risk of motorists getting caught. The use of advanced equipment, such as the TMPD Mobile Alcohol Testing Centre, directly deters motorists from driving while intoxicated.”
Faro encouraged motorists to take responsibility for the decisions they make before getting behind the wheel.
“Your choices behind the wheel determine whether everyone gets home safely. Plan before you embark on any trip to keep our beautiful City of Tshwane safe for all.”
The programme included addresses by TMPD leadership, the MMC for Community Safety and AWARE.org, followed by the formal handover of promotional materials and a community roadblock activation.
For AWARE.org, the partnership is ultimately about contributing to longer-term change by reinforcing responsible choices alongside visible law enforcement.
“Ultimately, we want to contribute to fewer alcohol related crashes, injuries and deaths, but it’s also about building a stronger culture of responsible road use,” said Thulo. “Drinking and driving doesn’t only put your own life at risk; it affects families and entire communities. Our goal is sustainable behaviour change, supported by education, enforcement and consistent engagement.”