Five killed on Western Cape roads

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

A total of 39 motorists were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

• Twelve motorists were arrested in the Mossel Bay service area, 
• eight in Vredenburg, 
• six in Swellendam, 
• five in George, 
• two in Somerset West, 
• two in Knysna, 
• two in Vredendal, 
• one in Beaufort West, and
• one in Oudtshoorn.

In addition, traffic officers arrested six people:

• Four drivers for excessive speeding in Beaufort West,
• One driver for overloading in Brackenfell, and
• One drunk pedestrian in Swellendam.

Breath testing was performed on 1 375 drivers at 26 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Vredendal service area. At 1,17 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is over four times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

A total of 120 speeding offences were recorded and 251 fines in the total amount of R303 300 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.

Highest speeds

• 168 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the Beaufort West service area, and
• 125 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the Laingsburg service area.

Details of road fatalities

During October, the Department of Transport and Public Works will be focusing on child road safety including road safety talks at schools, seatbelt compliance, learner transport operations, and scholar patrol audits and training. Comprehensive road safety education for children requires the involvement of traffic officers, parents, teachers and other adults in a community. Together, we can set a good example for children by consistently adhering to the rules of the road.

Join Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #SaveKidsLives