Armscor late last year made its first foray into the wider road safety sphere with the launch of an advanced driving academy pilot programme in Gauteng.
The initiative sees the State-owned defence and security acquisition agency team up with public transport operator Putco and its own Gerotek facility.
The pilot programme is the first outcome of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) entered into between Armscor and the Gauteng Department of Transport with MEC Jacob Mamabolo signing on behalf of the provincial transport authority. It was signed during a road safety seminar in Centurion in November.
The five year agreement outlines areas of collaboration. These include but are not limited to a driver training academy for taxis, mobile roadworthy equipment, technology driver assessment for license issuing, development of curriculum for road safety at schools, developing an app to report potholes and fleet management systems.
Speaking at the seminar, acting Armscor chief executive Solomzi Mbada expressed appreciation for the opportunity offered.
“It is in our duty to contribute to initiatives that can improve our people. We believe the services Armscor and Gerotek offer can make a meaningful impact helping the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport reduce road fatalities.”
The Erasmia seminar was the first of its kind where industry experts, researchers, representatives from the taxi industry, NGOs, private and public sector shared ideas on curbing road fatalities.
At the seminar Mamabolo also signed a MoU with the SA National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to promote road safety. Technology, partnerships and driver training were identified as key elements in making Gauteng roads safer.
“Armscor will through its quality, research and development, acquisition and advanced driver training systems supported with world-class technology and a customer orientated value system address road safety challenges to enable the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport to reduce fatalities and injuries on the road,” Mbada said.
