Results of Safely Home Weekend Traffic Operations

Media Statement by Dan Plato, Minister of Community Safety

During this weekend's integrated Safely Home operations on Western Cape roads, 1 925 vehicles were stopped at roadblocks across the province to ensure that drivers adhere to safety rules and vehicles are fit to be on the road.

A total of 352 fines were issued for traffic violations.

Approximately 823 drivers were screened for driving under the influence of alcohol, which led to 20 arrests with the highest breath alcohol readings recorded in Worcester at 1.02mg/1 000ml and Knysna at 1.16mg/1 000ml.

A driver was also arrested for speeding at 179 km/h in a 120km/h zone near Beaufort West.

A total of 260 speeding offences were recorded, which is significantly down from last weekend's 618.

The highest speeds were both recorded in Kraaifontein, with the drivers recorded at 134km/h in a 80km/h zone and 158km/h in a 100km/h zone respectively.

The weekend saw one man lose his life in a head-on collision on the N2 near Macassar. Six people were injured.

Our Safely Home campaign is bearing fruits of improved driver behaviour, barring the few individuals who still see fit to disregard the rules of the road. One death on our roads is still one too many and, therefore, all road users must play their part to ensure road safety.