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Cape Town - The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda, has called on traffic police to intensify operations following the arrest of several motorists for speeding earlier in June.
Two suspects were caught travelling at speeds of more than 200km/h.
According to Arrive Alive, Kaunda has also called on tougher measures to be taken against errant motorists, saying these drivers deliberately violate the law and are posing a threat to the lives of other road users.
Kaunda said: "These drivers clearly do not have respect for the law of this country. They are dangerous to themselves and to other road users. This sort of behaviour must be strongly discouraged."
Speeding motorists
• On Saturday (June 18), a 28-year-old driver was arrested in Dokodweni on the N2, driving at an excessive speed of 219km/h in a 120km/h zone.
• In Msunduzi Bridge in Jozini, a driver was caught driving at 200km/h on the N2.
• Two other motorists were arrested for driving at 196km/h in iFafa.
• Another driver was nabbed Sunday morning on the N2 in Ifafa doing 174km/h.
The KZN transport department said: "All the cases are now being handled by the South African Police Service."
Kaunda has strongly condemned the behaviour of these motorists, saying traffic officials have been mandated to stay vigilant as a majority of people are making their way back from a long weekend.
Kaunda said: "We commend all law enforcement agencies who are working day and night to ensure that those who violate the law are brought to book. We urge to justice system to take a harsher stance against those who violate road traffic laws, endangering the lives of other people.”
1005 speeding offences in Western Cape
The Western Cape Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Services reports three road users died from June 17 - 19.
Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services reported that breath testing was performed on 1412 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province.
The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Brackenfell service area, says the department. At 1.07mg of alcohol/ 1000ml of breath, this is four times the legal limit of 0.24mg/ 1 000ml.
A total of 6634 vehicles were screened for speeding and 1005 speeding offences were recorded while R254 100 worth of fines were issued for a variety of reasons ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.
The highest speeds recorded were:
• 175km/h in a 120km/h zone on the N1 in Brackenfell;
• 137km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N2 in Mossel Bay;
• 124km/h in an 80km/h zone on the N2 in Knysna; and 99km/h in a 60km/h on the N2 in the Knysna.
Speeding, safe driving and road crashes.
According to Arrive Alive, speeding can be defined as "exceeding the posted speed limit and driving too fast for conditions".
Johan Jonck, Arrive Alive editor says: "Unfortunately many people do not view obeying speed limits as an important way to avoid crashes. Speeding is regarded as a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes."
