Road safety in the Eastern Cape is being given a boost by a three-year training project for over 350 provincial traffic officers by Eastcape Midlands College (EMC).

"The officers will receive training over a wide range of both “soft” and practical courses through four phases of short training courses being presented at Culturama outside Uitenhage by the college and specialist training partners," says Klasie Claassen, Dean of Occupational Training at EMC.

The training is being done for the Eastern Cape Department of Transport.

Courses to be completed by the officers cover the fields of communication, advanced driving, computer skills, the law, firearm training and first aid. With 2010 in mind, the officers will also attend courses on diversity management.

"We want the officers to understand that different nationalities have their own body language and ways of expressing themselves – and to still be able to communicate," says Claassen.

Four training organisations are involved in the training – EMC is responsible for the theory and managing the training, the Advanced Capacity Training Academy is doing the driving and other practical aspects, Falcon Firearm Academy the weapons courses, and Preserve Life first aid.

"The traffic officer training includes aspects of fire-fighting, disaster management and basic motor vehicle accident investigation which have been added because the provincial traffic officers are often the first on the scene in the country areas and do not have immediate back-up from police or fire-fighters," says Claassen.

The course is being accredited with the Safety and Security SETA.