Sixteen killed on Western Cape roads over the weekend

A preliminary report from the Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates that 16 road users died on the province’s roads over the weekend.

Provincial Traffic Officers arrested 27 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 5 and 6 August 2016: 

• twelve were arrested in the Mossel Bay service area, 
• five in George, 
• three in Somerset West, 
• three in Swellendam, 
• two in Vredenburg, 
• one in Vredendal, and
• one in Worcester.

Breath testing was performed on 1 703 drivers at 26 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Vredenburg service area. At 1.16 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 9 568 vehicles were screened for speeding and 1 047 speeding offences were recorded. Fines in the amount of R349 800 were issued for a variety of reasons ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.

Highest speeds recorded

• 170 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, and
• 109 km/h in an 80 km/h on the N2 in the Knysna service area.

Details of road fatalities

Speeding plays a causal and aggravating role in most fatal crashes on Western Cape roads. We encourage motorists to slow down, thereby greatly reducing their likelihood of being involved in a horrific crash that results in a senseless loss of life. We will continue to address speeding through awareness campaigns, enforcement activities, and the Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD) camera enforcement network.

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