The public must get used to increased visibility of and engagement by traffic officers on all provincial roads. Increased law enforcement, that includes, roadblocks and vehicle check points, will become a permanent feature on provincial roads, said the MEC for Community safety, Advocate Lennit Max, today.
Max visited two of the 14 roadblocks held today in the Western Cape as enhanced provincial traffic law enforcement, in partnership with South African Police Service (SAPS) as well as metro police and traffic, was exercised on all provincial roads since start of the September school holidays.
Max said that driver and vehicle fatigue play a huge role in road accidents and that he pertinently discussed this with drivers and passengers. He reiterated that traffic officers will have a zero tolerance approach to drivers who violate the traffic laws to effectively secure safer provincial roads.
Road users should first ensure that they and their vehicles are fit before they enter the province’s main roads as they will face the consequences of not complying with traffic laws.
Preliminary results of today’s road traffic operations included: the impoundment of two buses (Wynland Toere and Leandra Toere) at a roadblock at the Paarl tollgate today (Sunday). The buses were found to be without any permits. Four drivers were also arrested at the same roadblock for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Results for 11 out of the 12 traffic areas:
- vehicles discontinued: 7
- vehicles stopped: 4628
- section 56 summonses issued: 755
- arrests drunk and driving: 28
- vehicles impounded: 2
- alcohol screens: 881
Max said that he, as the MEC of Community Safety and Provincial Traffic will not sit back when it comes to the safety of all road users and therefore will exhaust all avenues to bring about a decrease in road fatalities.
We will ensure that all road users must be brought safely home, said Max.
Enquiries:
Julian Jansen
Tel: 021 483 3873
Cell: 082 726 9334
