City Traffic Officers Express Concern over Young Drag Racers

City of Cape Town Traffic Services clamped down on illegal drag racing and driving under the influence of alcohol during joint operations held across Cape Town this weekend. Officers held roadblocks in Woodstock, Phillipi, Bishop Lavis, Epping and the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD), resulting in the arrest of sixty-four (64) drunk drivers, and conducted drag racing operations in Lansdowne and Bellville.

The specialised units within Traffic Services are experimenting with new and innovative ways of responding to the challenges posed by younger drag racers. During weekend operations, officers contacted the parents of both the drag racers and the spectators to warn them of the dangers of their children's continued involvement in such activities. The parents reacted with shock, disappointment and anger when told of the transgressions committed by their children. They are often under the mistaken impression that their children are somewhere safe - at a friend's house for example.

The safety of spectators remains a priority for Traffic Officers who conduct these operations. The following trends have been picked up by the officers:

• Children as young as nine (9) years of age attend illegal drag racing events.
• The participants are usually accompanied by their siblings.
• There is no first aid or fire safety equipment available and rescue staff are not present.
• There is often inadequate lighting.
• Racing takes place in residential areas.
• There are no spectator safety zones.

"We are greatly concerned by the escalation in the number of drag racers, especially amongst Cape Town's youth. The average drag racer is between eighteen (18) and twenty-three (23) years of age. They are often relatively inexperienced drivers who have limited knowledge of the performance capability of their vehicles. They travel at high speeds in specially modified vehicles on suburban roads, which are particularly unsuitable for racing," said Spokesperson for Traffic Services, Chief Inspector Merle Lourens.

On Friday, 10 December, Traffic Officers arrested thirteen (13) drunk drivers in Albert Road, Woodstock and another fourteen (14) in Modderdam Road, Bishop Lavis. The following day, 11 December, another eleven (11) motorists were arrested in the Philippi area and eleven (11) in the CBD - all on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol. On Sunday, 12 December, officers arrested fifteen (15) motorists for drunk driving in Vanguard Drive.

A total of sixty-six (66) speeding offences were also recording during additional speed checks in these areas.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town