Two weekend fatalities on Western Cape roads | Western Cape Government

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Two weekend fatalities on Western Cape roads

22 May 2017

Twenty-three people were arrested over the weekend by officers of Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in Mossel Bay. At 1,20 mg of alcohol / 1 000 ml of breath, this is five times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml. A preliminary report from Provincial Traffic Services indicates that two people died in road crashes.

Highest speeds

Three motorists were arrested for excessive speeding: 

  • one in the Vredenburg service area (167 km/h in a 80 km/h zone),
  • one in the Swellendam service area (158 km/h in a 100 km/ h zone), and
  • one in Beaufort West (158 km/h in a 120 km/ h zone). 

Another seven were arrested for other offences.

A total of 1 815 drivers were screened for driving under the influence at 24 alcohol blitz roadblocks.

Details of the 23 arrests

  19 May 20 May

Brackenfell
1 3
Beaufort West - -
Laingsburg - -
Somerset West 2 2
Swellendam - 2
Knysna - 1
George 3 -
Vredenburg - 1
Vredendal - 1
Caledon 2 -
Mossel Bay - 4
Oudtshoorn - -
Worcester - 1

 

Seven other arrests were made:

  • Two people for fraudulent documentation, one in Oudtshoorn and one in Vredenburg.
  • One pedestrian for being drunk.
  • Two people for being in possession of dagga, one in Vredendal and one in Swellendam.
  • One person in Caledon for stock theft (theft of three sheep).
  • One person for reckless and negligent driving in George.

Details of road fatalities

Date Details Fatalities
Friday, 19 May 2017 Head-rear collision between two vehicles on the N1 near Klapmuts.

1 driver

Saturday, 20 May 2017 Motorcyclist losing control 1 motorcyclist

 

This is an appeal from the Department of Transport and Public Works: never use your cell phone while driving. Distracted driving can be fatal. As the United States National Road Safety Council points out, the ability of a person’s brain to process moving images decreases by 33% when he or she is on the phone. Drivers cannot respond quickly to what is happening on the road when they are distracted. This is true even if they are using a hands-free apparatus. Road crashes can result in serious injuries and death. No phone call or text message is so important that it is worth a human life. 

Join Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #ItCanWait or visit its Facebook page “Safely Home by Western Cape Government”.

Media Enquiries: 

Kenny Africa
Provincial Traffic Chief
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 5114/ 7823
Cell: 084 562 4574
Email: Kenneth.Africa@westerncape.gov.za

Jacques Mostert
Provincial Traffic Spokesperson
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 7897
Cell: 082 820 0621
Email: Jacques.Mostert2@westerncape.gov.za