Thirty-two arrested for drinking and driving on Western Cape roads this weekend

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

Provincial traffic officers arrested 32 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 30 September and 1 October 2016.

• Ten were arrested in the George service area, 
• five in Brackenfell, 
• five in Swellendam, 
• four in Caledon, 
• four in Mossel Bay, 
• two in Vredendal, 
• one in Knysna, and
• one in Worcester.

Breath testing was performed on 1 899 drivers at 24 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Vredendal service area. At 1.23 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is five times over the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

In addition, two arrests were made: one drunken pedestrian in Vredendal; and one for obstructing a traffic officer in the execution of duty in Brackenfell.

A total of 6 910 vehicles were screened for speeding and 567 speeding offences were recorded. Fines in the amount of R340 000 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.

Highest speeds recorded

• 168 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the Brackenfell service area, 
• 128 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the Swellendam service area, and
• 118 km in an 80 km/h zone in the Knysna 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.

Follow Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #SaveKidsLives.