A preliminary report from Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates that seven road users died on the province’s roads over the weekend. One person was arrested for possession of 8 632 abalone in Worcester.
Provincial traffic officers arrested 17 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 17 and 18 February 2017. Five were arrested in the George service area, three in Worcester, three in Swellendam, two in Brackenfell, two in Somerset West, one in Laingsburg and one in Caledon.
Breath testing was performed on 1 830 drivers at 23 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Beaufort West service area. At 1,57 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is over six times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.
Five other persons were arrested:
A total of 80 speeding offences were recorded. A total of 220 fines in the amount of R289 711 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.
The highest speeds recorded in each traffic service area were: 156 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the Vredenburg service area; 139 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the Swellendam service area; 113 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in the Beaufort West service area, and 101 km/h in the Knysna service area.
Details of road fatalities
Date |
Location of crash |
Fatalities |
Friday, 17 February 2017 |
Fishhoek |
1 passenger |
Friday, 17 February 2017 |
N7 Potsdam area |
1 pedestrian |
Saturday, 18 February 2017 |
Muizenberg |
1 passenger |
Saturday, 18 February 2017 |
R300 Wesbank area |
1 pedestrian |
Sunday, 19 February 2017 |
N1 Leeu Gamka/ Prince Albert |
1 pedestrian |
Sunday, 19 February 2017 |
N1 Leeu Gamka/ Prince Albert |
2 passengers |
We urge the public to assist us to create safer roads. The fewer incidents on our roads, the more quickly our response agencies can attend to emergencies. We can’t ensure road safety alone. All of us have a role to play.
Join Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #ShareTheRoad
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