The school is closing today, 11 December 2009, which will lead to parents and holiday makers going on leave to travel over long distances to visit families and friends. Visitors from all over the country will be entering the province of the Western Cape. Holiday resorts, camping sites along the coastal towns will experience an increase in festivities caused high traffic volumes on national and provincial routes.
The objectives as set out in the integrated summer operational plan is to minimise road trauma, accidents, injuries and fatalities through a heightened awareness road traffic safety management strategy that address all critical traffic related issues and a series of integrated Traffic law enforcement operations on all national, provincial and local routes in the Western Cape.
A total number of 95 percent of traffic law enforcement officials will be deployed on all national and provincial routes. No leave will be granted to traffic officials, only in extreme cases. There will be high visibility patrols, roadblocks, vehicle check points, speed measuring and overload control on all national and provincial roads.
Traffic law enforcement officials will monitor the movement of busses and mini busses. We found that drivers of public transport vehicles are leaving Cape Town legally loaded, but load then passengers on route between Beaufort West and Cape Town.
One accident is one accident too many for us. Our message to all motorists is to seriously think about the safety of all passengers with you in your vehicle and other road users by conducting the following:
* obey all traffic rules
* keep safe following distances
* avoid inconsiderate driving
* keep to the prescribed speed limit
* do not overload
* stick to the principle of two hours drive 15 minutes brake
* do not drink and drive
* plan your journey and include rest times
* buckle up
* display positive driver behaviour
Let us all arrive safely home.
Accident Statistics:
As from 1 to 10 December 2009, we had a total of 46 accidents on national and provincial roads which led to 16 fatalities and 13 people being seriously injured.
The 46 accidents break down is as follows:
* Pedestrians: 13
* Head on collisions: 4
* Side swaps: 4
* Lost control: 7
* Head rear accidents: 9
* Head side: 1
* Tyre burst: 4
* Over-turned: 4
Please keep in mind that this figures is what’s been reported to the operational room and where our officers have attended these scenes.
Fatality breakdown:
2009 to 2010
1 December 2009 to 10 December 2009
1 December 2008 to 18 January 2009
* Drivers: 466
* Passengers: 632
* Pedestrians: 668
* Total: 1 766
Contact:
XP Wentzel
Tel: 021 483 6060
Cell: 082 8200 621
E-mail: xwentzel@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Community Safety, Western Cape Provincial Government
11 December 2009
