Bridgewater Logistics continues to invest heavily into driver training and sophisticated technologies to ensure that it maintains its long and proud safety track record on South Africa’s roads.
With the holiday season looming, the leading transport and logistics service provider urges all South Africans to also practice extreme caution on the country’s roads.
“The carnage on our roads, especially during the ‘silly season’ remains a very serious concern,” says Quinton de Villiers, managing director of Bridgewater Logistics.
“Sadly, the reality is that many of these horrendous incidences are caused by drinking and driving, exhaustion, as well as impatient and aggressive driver behaviour, and could have been avoided in the first place. The blame cannot be passed on to government, which continues to do a stellar job in communicating the perils associated with such practices, complemented by visible policing on our road network during these high-risk periods.”
In addition to only employing competent drivers and investing in their ongoing development at the company, Bridgewater Logistics has adopted a “safety first policy” in its operations, comprising transport and logistics, as well as warehousing and distribution.
This policy has also been carried over to the company’s new line-haul business, which also relies heavily upon skilled and responsible drivers.
Bridgewater Logistics’ drivers are also well aware of the company’s zero tolerance policy towards unsafe practices on the country’s road network. This includes drinking and driving, or being under the influence of substances while operating its commercial vehicles.
Yet, they regularly encounter poor driver behaviour and practices on the country’s roads that undermine their own efforts and those of other law-abiding citizens to create a safer road transport environment.
Sometimes, it may just be a blatant disregard for the rules of the road that have nearly resulted in a dangerous incident.
“More than 1 000 road deaths were recorded this Easter that could have otherwise been avoided. The carnage on our roads, especially during the long holiday period, can be brought to a halt. It is more about a change in the mind-set of South Africans than anything else,” he concludes.
