Road safety has again taken the spotlight in the Mother City, after the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate recorded a significant increase in road accidents this past weekend alone.

In the past 48 hours, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) has recorded 60 motor vehicle accidents and 21 pedestrian vehicle accidents. This is reportedly a near 100% increase compared to last weekend, when 41 such incidents were recorded.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says these statistics are a grim reminder of the challenges that authorities face with road safety. Smith says with the current wet weather over the metro, odds are that the rate of incidents will remain high.

“Our enforcement services work around the clock to be visible and to address transgressions. – Enforcement is a critical cog in this wheel, but safer roads start with greater accountability from road users.”

Smith says just in the last week, traffic officers recorded more than 50,000 incidents where road users broke the law.

“I appeal to everyone to share in the responsibility of creating safer walking, driving and cycling conditions for all by obeying the law and exercising greater care for yourself and others,” added Smith

General Road Safety Tips:

• Obey the rules of the road, in particular the speed limit
• Be vigilant at all times, and avoid distractions like using your cellphone (which is illegal)
• Ensure safe following distances and drive with your headlights on, so you are visible to other road users
• Be on the lookout for pedestrians or cyclists
• Pedestrians should walk only where it is legal to do so, and wear bright clothing to be visible to other road users
• Cyclists should ride only where it is legal to do so, and ensure that they are visible to other road users

In total, the Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1,825 incidents over the weekend, including 648 medical incidents, 34 fires, 96 cases of assault, 53 cases of domestic violence and 81 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.

Apart from the 52,348 offences recorded by the Traffic Service, officers also made 32 arrests – 28 for drunk driving, two for reckless and negligent driving and two for other offences.

They executed 1,634 warrants of arrest and impounded 238 public transport vehicles.

Law Enforcement officers made 105 arrests in the past week and issued 4,875 notices for various transgressions. Their Metro Police counterparts arrested 75 suspects and issued 2,353 notices for traffic and bylaw transgressions.

Officers also recovered a range of contraband, including dagga, mandrax and cocaine, an illegal firearm and ammunition, as well as an imitation firearm.