The Department of Mobility Western Cape has released a rather somber review concerning road safety over the peak festive travel period from December 15 to 21. Despite intensified enforcement, the province’s road network remains under tremendous pressure, characterized by high traffic volumes and tragic fatalities.
Within this seven-day window, there were 28 crashes resulting in the deaths of 30 people. A very alarming trend is the vulnerability of pedestrians, with a record of 11 out of these deaths. The issue has always been a challenge that seems not to go away in this festive season, where the increase in the movement of both people and vehicles is often translated into fatal encounters.
Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement sustained high-intensity visibility to deter reckless behavior. Operations yielded 98 arrests, with the majority at 56 for driving under the influence of alcohol. Another 12 arrests were made for being in possession of fraudulent documentation. Speeding continues to be one of the most essential factors of risk, as there were 154 offenses, including a peak speed of 161 km/h in a 120 km/h zone.
Therefore, authorities had set up 196 integrated roadblocks and speed control operations to cope with the surge of travelers. The scale of these efforts included more than 30,000 vehicles stopped and checked, and more than 10,000 fines were issued for breaches in driver and vehicle fitness. It provides close coordination between the SAPS and emergency medical services and the local authorities in charge of traffic.
The Minister of Mobility of the Western Cape province, Isaac Sileku, and his Chief Director, Maxine Bezuidenhout, stressed that they will strictly enforce the rules, as their aim is to save lives and not just impose penalties. They highlighted that excessive speeding and drunk driving are preventable causes of tragedies.
As the festive season unfolds, authorities have asked motorists and pedestrians to be alert and plan ahead. All road users must share responsibility, and responsible driving is crucial to ensure that all pedestrians reach their destination safely.
