Department continues roll-out of district safety plans ahead of Easter

Following the success of the Caledon District Safety Plan (DSP), the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) and its partners are piloting a Metro DSP in Khayelitsha and Lingelethu West (KLW). Another DSP for the West Coast (South) is in the final planning stages and will be implemented in April 2018. In its first year of implementation, the Caledon DSP resulted in a reduction of 29,7% in road fatalities. The results from KLW are also very promising. At the end of February, fatalities were down 87,5% compared to the same period in 2017.

Recognising that road safety is a shared responsibility, DTPW and other road safety agencies are playing their part by steadily implementing interdisciplinary evidence-based road safety operations that are integrated across all three spheres of government. Participants include the South African Police Service, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), provincial traffic and roads agencies, and municipal traffic and roads agencies.

“The results of a coordinated evidence-based approach speak for themselves,” said Hector Eliott, Strategic Coordinator: DTPW Transport Management.

“After one year of implementing the DSP in the Caledon area with our partner agencies, child fatalities dropped by 84,6%, and there was a reduction of 29,7% in road fatalities, including a 51,6% reduction in pedestrian fatalities.”

Details of this week’s road deaths

Forensic Pathology Services data indicates 27 people were killed between 14 and 20 March on Western Cape roads. Fourteen of the fatalities were pedestrians (52%), and two were passengers.

Wednesday 14 March

• 2 drivers were killed – 1 in the Metro Region, and 1 in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.
• 1 motorcyclist was killed in the Metro Region.
• 2 pedestrians were knocked down and killed in the Metro Region.

Thursday 15 March

• 3 drivers were killed – 2 in the West Coast Region, and 1 in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.
• 1 pedestrian was knocked down and killed in the Metro Region.

Friday 16 March

• 1 pedestrian was knocked down and killed in the Metro Region.

Saturday 17 March

• 1 driver was killed in the Metro Region.
• 1 motorcyclist was killed in the West Coast Region.
• 4 pedestrians were knocked down and killed – 3 in the Metro Region, and 1 in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.

Sunday 18 March

• 1 driver was killed in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.
• 2 pedestrians were knocked down and killed in the Metro Region.

Monday 19 March

• 1 driver was killed in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.
• 2 passengers were killed in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.
• 3 pedestrians were knocked down and killed – 2 in the Metro Region, and 1 in the Winelands/ Overberg Region.

Tuesday 20 March

• 1 driver was killed in the Eden/ Central Karoo Region.
• 1 pedestrian was knocked down and killed in the Metro Region.

It’s up to you to make the difference. #BeTheChange you want to see on our roads. For more information see safelyhome.westerncape.gov.za and on Facebook and Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome.

Additional statistics for the week of 14 to 20 March

• Provincial Traffic Services held 32 alcohol blitz roadblocks and Random Breath Testing operations.
• A total of 8 519 drivers were screened for (being under suspicion of) driving under the influence of alcohol, and 51 were arrested.
• The highest breath alcohol reading recorded was 1,31 mg/ 1 000 ml of breath in the Swellendam service area – over 5 times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.
• A total of 2 679 fines in the amount of R3 511 251 were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver violations to vehicle fitness offences.
• Provincial Traffic Services recorded 2 582 speeding offences. The highest speeds recorded were:
  • 183 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 Swellendam service area.
  • 119 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the N1 in the Worcester service area.
  • 99 km/h in a 70 km/h zone on the N1 in the Worcester service area.
  • 87 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on the N2 in the Knysna service area.
• Provincial Traffic Services made 25 other arrests:
  • 2 drivers were arrested for goods overloading in the Brackenfell service area.
  • 2 drivers were arrested for bribery – 1 in the Brackenfell service area, and 1 in the Caledon service area.
  • 1 driver was arrested for fraud in the Brackenfell service area.
  • 2 drivers were arrested for possession of dagga – 1 in Swellendam service area, and 1 in the Vredendal service area.
  • 2 drivers were arrested for false documentation – 1 in the Caledon service area, and 1 in the Brackenfell service area.
  • 16 pedestrians were arrested for being under the influence of alcohol in the Vredendal service area.

Traffic information enquiries
Tel: 021 946 1646
Email: goodwood.tmc@wc.weighbridge.co.za