Cape Town — Authorities in the Western Cape have become concerned over the number of fatalities since the start of December, with 55 people having died on the roads.
Authorities have warned that close to 600 officers will be on the ground to ensure that drivers stay on the right side of the law, with over 100 drunk drivers arrested this past weekend. City officials warned that those who misbehave and disobey the laws of the road, can expect to punished and face the wrath of the law, eNCA reported.
“We are urging everyone to work with us in turning this situation around. Please abide by the rules of the road, do not drink and drive, do not speed. We can turn the situation around if we work together.”
Western Cape Minister of Mobility, @ricardomackenzi, is deeply concerned about the rising numbers of traffic crashes and fatalities on our roads. The number of arrests made for drunk driving over the last week has also quadrupled. Read more: https://t.co/mdNuXDzIDg.
— Safely Home (@WCGovSafelyHome) December 18, 2023
According to the Western Cape Government, there is a concern about the rising number of motor vehicle accidents (MVA), with Provincial Traffic Officers stepping up greatly to check over 37% more vehicles and issue 55% more fines than the previous week.
There were 25 arrests made for drunk driving this week, while the number of passengers killed in road crashes has also increased dramatically.
“Our Provincial Traffic Officers are out in full force working closely with the South African Police Services and local authorities and doing an amazing job to ensure everyone arrives safely home. But we need to see road users stepping up and working with us to combat road crashes and fatalities this festive season,” the government said.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@TrafficRTMC
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
