Road safety operation launched ahead of Easter holidays

As the Easter long weekend looms, the Western Cape Mobility Department is taking additional measures to emphasize road safety during this time. The Easter long weekend is historically the busiest time on provincial roads – which increases vehicle accidents.

The department is therefore launching an Easter “Exodus” operation to prevent crashes and ensure that everyone arrives safely at their destination. Mobility Minister Ricardo Mackenzie says officers will be checking both vehicle and driver fitness along popular routes.

“This operation forms part of the Western Cape Government’s intensive efforts to keep residents and visitors safe on our roads during this busy holiday period.”

The City of Cape has also appealed to long distance public transport operators to be part of the Easter Exodus operation and get their vehicles checked before hitting the road.

Examiners have conducted safety checks on 327 buses, midi-busses, minibuses, and trailers within the first six days of the operation.

They will continue to be stationed at the Joe Gqabi, Bellville, and CBD public transport interchanges until Good Friday (29 March). The City therefore urged operators to queue up, prioritizing the safety of passengers and fellow road users.

“Easter is traditionally a dark time on South Africa’s roads – according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s statistics; there were 26 fatal crashes on the Western Cape’s Roads last Easter, resulting in 27 fatalities.” Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member JP Smith

Smith adds that the City is committed to reducing these statistics, but it necessitates a collective effort.

“So, if you’re in the long distance transport industry, get your vehicles checked, and make sure that your drivers too are fit for the task.”

Additionally, Traffic officials are implementing vehicle checkpoints around major public transport interchanges as part of Operation Exodus. Since its commencement on the 21st of March, these checkpoints have resulted in 884 vehicles being stopped, 864 drivers screened, and 4,038 fines issued for various violations.