Two fatalities on Western Cape roads | Western Cape Government

News

Two fatalities on Western Cape roads

8 May 2017

A preliminary report from Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates that two people died on the province’s roads over the weekend.

Provincial traffic officers arrested 27 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 6 and 7 May 2017.

  • Eight were arrested in the George service area, 
  • four in Swellendam,
  • three in Mossel Bay, 
  • three in Caledon, 
  • two in Somerset West, 
  • two in Knysna, 
  • two in Worcester, 
  • one in Laingsburg, 
  • one in Vredenburg, and
  • one in Oudtshoorn.

Breath testing was performed on 1 955 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Swellendam service area. At 1,06 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is over four times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

Three other persons were arrested:

  • Two for being under the influence of alcohol in Vredendal; and
  • One for overloading in Swellendam.

A total of 151 speeding offences were recorded. A total of 213 fines in the amount of R297 750 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.

Highest speeds recorded

  • 160 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the Laingsburg service area;
  • 147 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the Oudtshoorn service area; and
  • 101 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in the Mossel Bay service area.

Details of road fatalities

Date Location of crash Fatalities
Saturday, 6 May 2017 N7 between Morningstar and M19 1 passenger
Saturday, 6 May 2017 Between Mamre and R27 1 driver

 

This is an appeal from the Department of Transport and Public Works: never use your cell phone while driving. Distracted driving can be fatal. As the United States National Road Safety Council points out, the ability of a person’s brain to process moving images decreases by 33% when he or she is on the phone. Drivers cannot respond quickly to what is happening on the road when they are distracted. This is true even if they are using a hands-free apparatus. Road crashes can result in serious injuries and death. No phone call or text message is so important that it is worth a human life. 

Join Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #ItCanWait.

 

Media Enquiries: 
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
 

You can follow the Department of Transport and Public Works on Twitter: @WCGovTPW