A preliminary report from Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates that two road users died on the province’s roads over the weekend. This includes a driver who lost control over a vehicle and crashed near Beaufort West, and a pedestrian who was apparently struck by a vehicle on the N1 between Touws River and Laingsburg.
Over the weekend, traffic officers had their hands full with motorists allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol breath tests revealed that 27 drivers were over the legal limit. Eight were arrested in the George service area; seven in Caledon; three in Somerset West; two in Swelledam; one in Laingsburg; one in Knysna; one in Vredenburg; one in Vredendal; one in Mossel Bay; one in Oudtshoorn; and one in Worcester.
Breath testing was performed on 1 897 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Caledon service area. At 1,01 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is over four times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.
Nine other persons were arrested:
A total of 253 vehicles were screened for speeding and 160 speeding offences were recorded. Fines in the amount of R583 300 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.
The highest speeds recorded were 154 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the Worcester service area; 131 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the Swellendam service area; and 92 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in the Somerset West service area.
Details of road fatalities
Date |
Location of crash |
Fatalities |
Sunday, 8 January 2017 |
N1 between Touws River and Laingsburg |
1 pedestrian |
Sunday, 8 January 2017 |
Beaufort West |
1 driver |
Provincial Traffic Services officers have been working around the clock to help create safer, booze-free roads. Our efforts have yielded positive results, and more operations will take place to curb driving under the influence.
With schools reopening this week, our efforts will be geared specifically towards enhancing safety around schools. Our traffic officers take learner transport operations at Western Cape schools seriously. These efforts help to ensure that learners travel safely to and from school, and that drivers comply with legal vehicle safety and permit requirements. We also actively support scholar patrols in targeted schools across the province to improve safety around schools.
Join Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #BoozeFreeRoads
Kenny Africa
Provincial Traffic Chief
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 5114/ 7823
Cell: 084 562 4574
Email: Kenneth.Africa@westerncape.gov.za
Byron la Hoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 9813
Cell: 079 281 8570
Email: Byron.laHoe@westerncape.gov.za