The Western Cape Mobility Department says its concerned that reckless driving trends continue into the festive season, following statistics from last week’s traffic operations.
Between 27 November and 3 December 2023, 34 people were killed in road-related incidents. Pedestrians accounted for 18 of those fatalities. Arrests for drunk driving were also high during this reporting period. Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie, says he’s appalled by the reckless road behaviour.
“Eighty people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, including the driver of a minibus taxi carrying 12 people. One of these passengers did not survive the fatal crash the minibus was involved in, and further charges have been laid against the driver for reckless or negligent driving, among other charges.”
The number of fatalities on provincial roads more than doubled, when compared to the week before, and two weeks prior, to the reporting period mentioned. Thirteen fatalities, still with most being pedestrians, were recorded. With, again, a high number of drunk driving arrests made (45 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, of 69 arrests made for traffics violations, overall).
“Those who take risks on our roads must know that there are consequences.”
The incidents recorded last week came around the same time that the department launched its Festive Season Road Safety Plan, on 1 December.
With just a few days to go to the official start of the festive season, Mackenzie says his teams are hard at work to ensure that everyone arrives alive. He also notes, however, that all road users need to play their part. Behaviour by road users such as trucks operating on prohibited routes, cyclists ignoring construction risks on closed roads, and public transport drivers putting their passengers’ lives at risk, will not be tolerated.
“Check your vehicle’s roadworthiness, buckle up, don’t drink and drive, don’t speed, and take rest breaks every 200km. These simple actions will keep everyone safe and alive this festive season.”
The Western Cape Infrastructure Department also made call on pedestrians and cyclists to abide by traffic signs recently. This is with ongoing roadworks on damaged roads, as a result of the September floods. Spokesperson, Jandre Bakker says precautionary road signs on scenic routes, like Clarence Drive, are among those often disregarded by cyclists and pedestrians.
READ ALSO: R500 million to fix WC roads after floods
