The New Year’s long weekend has seen the province’s lowest road fatalities over the festive season. New Year’s is traditionally associated with high traffic volumes, especially around coastal areas. This followed, the busy Christmas long weekend.
Lowest road fatalities this festive season
“The hard work by traffic law enforcement with the support of other law enforcement and emergency services as well as law-abiding road users has resulted in the lowest number of road-related fatalities this festive season,” said the acting Provincial Minister of Mobility, Dr Ivan Meyer.
He added, “While 14 people lost their lives on our roads, 70 drunk drivers were arrested. A further 9 speedsters were nabbed.”
Hundreds of integrated roadblocks to stop road fatalities
Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services implemented a total of 315 integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed control operations across the province in the week of 28 December 2022 to 2 January 2023. About 43 000 vehicles were stopped and checked. A total of 12 651 fines were also issued for various traffic violations.
A total of 431 speeding offences were recorded. “The highest number of road fatalities were, again, pedestrians. While it is considerably fewer than the previous reporting period, it is still concerning to us,” said Meyer.
If you are a motorist
If you are a motorist, show consideration for pedestrians wherever they are. Slowing down will give you more time to avoid pedestrians on the road.
The highest speeds recorded were as follows:
- 178 km/h in a 120 km/h zone
- 139 km/h in a 100 km/h zone
- 124 km/h in an 80 km/h zone
- 114 km/h in a 70 km/h zone
- 79 km/h in a 60 km/h zone
- 59 km/h in a 40 km/h zone
Forty-one vehicles were impounded and 152 were discontinued for unroadworthiness.
A total of 103 arrests:
- 70 x driving under the influence of alcohol
- 4 x reckless and negligent driving
- 9 x speeding
- 14 x possession of fraudulent documentation
- 1 x bribery
- 1 x obstructs or hinders an authorized officer in the execution of his/her duty
- 1 x driving or riding a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent
- 2 x operating an unroadworthy vehicle
- 1 x assault
Fatalities recorded from 28 December 2022 to 2 January 2023
A total of 14 crashes occurred in the reporting period, and 14 deaths were recorded:
- 1 x driver
- 2 x motorcyclists
- 2 x passengers
- 9 x pedestrians
READ: WC Transport Department records reduction in road accidents over Easter holidays
ARTICLE compiled by the Department of Transport Media Team.
