Publications
Partners
Cape Town - A preliminary report from the Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates that four pedestrians died on the province’s roads over the weekend of January 20-22.
Traffic officers arrested 17 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on January 20-21, 2017. Four were arrested in the Swellendam service area; three in Knysna; three in George; three in Caledon; two in Worcester; one in Somerset West; and one in Oudtshoorn.
Walking under the influence
Seven pedestrians were also arrested in Vredendal for allegedly walking under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol and roads just don’t mix - it's a known fact and also one of the many #BoozeFreeRoads campaign lines in the Cape as part of the #SafelyHome initiative. In fact, alcohol is linked to 61% of pedestrian deaths, claims Western Cape MEC Donald Grant. Pedestrians should not walk near traffic after consuming alcohol because their judgement is impaired.
Breath testing was performed on 1851 drivers at 26 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Swellendam service area. At 1.11mg of alcohol/1000ml of breath, this is over four times the legal limit of 0.24mg/1000ml.
READ: Festive season road deaths - SA figures ‘deeply worrying'
Five other persons were arrested:
• One for possession of a stolen vehicle in Beaufort West;
• One for providing false information in Swellendam;
• One for reckless and negligent driving in George;
• One for crimen injuria in Mossel Bay; and
• One for false documentation in Mossel Bay.
A total of 291 vehicles were screened for speeding and 245 speeding offences were recorded. Fines in the amount of R330 300 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.
The highest speeds recorded were 152km/h in a 120km/h zone in the Laingsburg service area; 136km/h in a 100km/h zone in the Laingsburg service area; and 145km/h in an 80km/h zone in the Vredendal service area.
Grim festive season
Over the 2016 Christmas weekend, 19 road users lost their lives. Among these was a horrific crash near De Doorns which claimed the lives of 13 people who were apparently on their way to visit loved ones over Christmas.
READ: Western Cape roads remain lethal - Christmas long weekend claims 19 lives
Western Cape MEC Donald Grant said: "It was a dark long weekend on Western Cape roads as a preliminary report from Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates. Two child pedestrians, the first only one year old and other five, tragically lost their lives after being hit by motor vehicles on the West Coast."
Over the 2016/2017 New Year's weekend a total of 3905 vehicles were screened for speeding and 682 speeding offences were recorded. Fines in the amount of R410 650 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.
The highest speeds recorded were 182km/h in a 120km/h zone in the Brackenfell service area; 146km/h in a 100km/h zone in the Brackenfell service area; and 103km/h in an 80km/h zone in the Somerset West service area.
READ: 682 speedsters, more than R400k in fines... WCape's shock New Year's weekend stats
Breath testing was performed on 3361 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Knysna service area. At 1.24mg of alco-hol/1000 ml of breath, this is over five times over the legal limit of 0.24mg/1000ml.
Five other persons were arrested: one for false documentation in George; one for possession of 21 bags of abalone in Worcester; one for 22 grams of khat in Worcester; one for bribery in Worcester; and one for possession of a stolen vehicle in George.
