JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – UNITAR and its Center for International Training for Officers and Leaders (CIFAL) Durban in collaboration with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the Durban Metro Police Service (DMPS) and the eThekwini Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for 50 senior JMPD officers in the Tracing Unit, Training Division, Community Outreach Unit and Road Safety Unit, aimed at enhancing road safety initiatives. To move forward and promote responsibility. Driving behavior across the city of Johannesburg.
The TOT workshop took place on 10th June at JMPD Academy and the participants were introduced to AutoSobriety Training Program Prevents Drunk Driving Its learning objectives and learning modules. The overall goal of this TOT workshop is to introduce the AutoSobriety training program to 4,500 JMPD officers, significantly expanding its reach and creating a lasting impact on law enforcement capacity and public road safety awareness.
The following key areas were discussed in the training sessions:
- Road traffic injury statistics and risk factors in South Africa
- Physiological effects of alcohol on the human body and driving performance
- The legal framework governing drink-driving and blood alcohol concentration limits
- Practical strategies to prevent impaired driving and promote responsible road use
- Using virtual reality to educate young drivers about the effects of alcohol on driving performance.
The sessions were facilitated by experts from CIFAL Durban, Durban Metro Police and JMPD, combining evidence-based presentations, interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions. The multidisciplinary approach equipped participants with the knowledge, practical skills and educational tools necessary to become effective road safety ambassadors within their organizations and communities.
siphal durban
Highlights of the session:
- Coordinated response across the entire justice value chain – from arrest and evidence collection to prosecution and adjudication
- Regulatory reforms to complement ongoing education and awareness initiatives and contribute to a more effective and integrated approach to reducing alcohol-related road crashes.
- Implement education and public awareness initiatives by prioritizing reestablishing municipal courts for speedy adjudication of traffic offenses, including drunk driving cases, to improve turnaround times, increase accountability, strengthen the deterrent effects of law enforcement, and strengthen public confidence that drunk driving offenders will be held accountable.
UNITAR's TOT workshop in Johannesburg aims to create a multiplier effect by equipping participants with the knowledge and facilitation skills to educate colleagues, schools, workplaces, community organizations and local road users while facilitating the exchange of best practices between Johannesburg and Durban Metro Police units – Ms Estrella Merlos, Global Head, Road Safety, UNITAR
Together, through education, awareness and collective action, we can build a future where every journey is safe and where responsible choices behind the wheel become the norm rather than the exception – Professor Mpilo Ngubane, Director, CIFAL Durban
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