Twenty-one people killed on Western Cape roads this weekend

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services arrested 35 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 March 2016. Twenty-one people died in road crashes over the weekend:

• six drivers,
• nine passengers,
• one motorcyclist,
• four pedestrians, and
• one cyclist.

Six other arrests were made:

• two for reckless and negligent driving in Brackenfell, 
• one for false documentation in Vredendal,
• one for false documentation and the possession of possible stolen copper in Worcester,
• one for driving without a licence in Worcester, and
• one for damage of state property in Swellendam.

Breath testing was performed on 1 233 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Somerset West service area. At 1,40 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is more than five times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

A total of 7 529 vehicles were screened for speeding and 925 speeding offences were recorded. The highest speeds recorded were 171 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N1 in the Brackenfell service area, 116 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N7 in the Vredenburg service area, 116 km/h in an 100 km/h zone on the N2 in the Swellendam service area and 104 km/h in a 80 km/h zone on the N1 in the Worcester service area. These drivers face heavy fines.

A total of 233 fines in the amount of R274 150 were issued for various traffic law infringements, including driver and vehicle fitness violations.

Details of weekend road crash fatalities

The Department of Transport and Public Works appeals to motorists to make themselves and others safer by:

• not drinking and driving,
• buckling up in the front and back at all times,
• driving carefully and considerately, and
• always remaining within the speed limit.

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