Seven killed on Western Cape roads this weekend

A preliminary report from the Western Cape Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Services indicates that seven road users died on the province’s roads this weekend.

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services arrested 37 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 15 and 16 April 2016.

Two other arrests were made:

• a grape seller on the N1 near Worcester and
• one in connection with overloading on the N1 near Beaufort West.

Breath testing was performed on 1 197 drivers at 26 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Somerset West service area. At 1.17 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is five times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

A total of 10 156 vehicles were screened for speeding and 1 108 speeding offences were recorded. The highest speeds recorded were 176 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N1 in the Brackenfell service area, 141 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N2 in the Mossel Bay service area, and 112 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the N2 in the Knysna service area.

A total of 117 fines in the amount of R222 500 were issued for various traffic law infringements, including driver and vehicle fitness violations.

Details of the road fatalities over the weekend

The Department of Transport and Public Works is encouraging road users to #BeTheChange that they want to see on Western Cape roads. They can do this by: 

• not drinking and driving,
• buckling up in the front and back at all times,
• not using a cell phone while driving,
• driving carefully and considerately, and
• always remaining within the speed limit.

Follow Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #BeTheChange.