Weekly report on Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services operations

Weekly report on Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services operations, 3 December – 9 December 2018

Provincial traffic officers of the Department of Transport and Public Works are working around the clock to create booze-free roads in the Western Cape. The past week saw 45 people arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), an increase compared to last week. A total of 23 DUI arrests were made in the N2 region, 17 in the Metro/ N7 region, and five in the N1 region.

Once again, there was a particularly large number of DUI arrests in the Garden Route. DUI is a serious risk to drivers, passengers and pedestrians. If you drive under the influence, you face an increased risk of being in a crash in which people can get injured or killed. The highest breath alcohol reading recorded by provincial officers was 1,26 mg/ 1 000 ml in the Mossel Bay service area, five times the legal limit of 0,24mg/1 000 ml.

A total of 966 speeding offences were recorded for various traffic violations. At total of 3 668 fines in the amount of R5 493 250 were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness.

The highest speeds recorded during the week were as follows:

• 188 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N2 in the Mossel Bay service area.
• 176 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N2 in the Swellendam service area.
• 117 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the N2 in the Somerset service area.

Details of other arrests:

Metro N7 Region

• A driver was arrested for reckless and negligent driving in the Brackenfell service area.
• Two drivers were arrested for false documentation, one in Brackenfell and the other in Somerset West.
• One driver was arrested for failing to comply with a lawful instruction in the Vredendal service area.

N1 Region

• Two drivers were arrested for excessive speeding – one for travelling 161 km/h on the N1 near Beaufort West, and the other for travelling 169 km/h on the N1 near Laingsburg.
• One driver was arrested for fraud in the Beaufort West service area.
• Four drivers were arrested for false documentation – three in Beaufort West and one in Laingsburg.
• One foreign national was arrested for not being in possession of required documentation in the Beaufort West service area.
• One driver was arrested for aiding and abetting the commission of a crime in the Beaufort West service area.

N2 Region

• Three drivers were arrested for excessive speeding:
  • two in a 120 km/h zone on the N2 near Mossel Bay – one travelling at 188 km/h and the other at 165 km/h;
  • one for travelling 176 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N2 near Swellendam.
• Two drivers were arrested for reckless and negligent driving in the Mossel Bay service area.
• Seven drivers were arrested for false documentation (one in Caledon, one in Mossel Bay, and five in the Swellendam service area).
• One driver was arrested for damage to state property in the George service area.
• One person was arrested in connection with a robbery in the Swellendam service area.

Forensic Pathology Services data shows that 21 road users were killed in the Western Cape in the week under review – 11 passengers, six drivers and four pedestrians.

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