Cape Town – Law enforcement officials will reportedly be out in full force to ensure road safety, with traffic volumes swelling as holidaymakers travel to and from their destinations for the festive season weekend.
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga added that authorities will be using technology to ensure motorists obeyed the rules of the road.
“Over this period, we are deploying personnel and technologies across the country, especially in high-risk accident-prone areas to prevent incidents and accidents by ensuring all road users interact safely with the road,” Chikunga said.
Meanwhile, traffic was backed up on the N3 south in Free State on Friday morning, while in KwaZulu-Natal, an accident on the N3 south between Balgowan and Lions River was causing traffic delays, the Citizen reported.
Heavy traffic was also reported in Mpumalanga and the N1 north between Pretoria and Polokwane.
Number plates
Chikunga said 24 routes which had recorded a high number of crashes and fatalities in the past would be prioritised in road safety operations over the long weekend.
She also warned that traffic authorities would impound vehicles that did not have number plates.
The minister said motorists who drove without number plates were generally ‘speedsters and people who want to avoid detection by speed cameras. This is defeating the ends of justice, and such vehicles will be stopped and impounded until plates are properly attached”.
IOL reported that a motorist driving without number plates was arrested at a roadblock near the Marianhill toll plaza in Kwazulu-Natal on Thursday.
“He was found in possession of approximately R90 000 in cash, which he claims he kept it to buy Christmas clothes,” traffic authorities said.
The motorist’s driving permit had also reportedly expired.
“If there is nothing malicious as to how the money was obtained, the suspect will be released,” police said. “However, the vehicle will only be released once it has licence plates.”
No tolerance for bribery and corruption
“Our own assessment tells us that corruption relating to the issuing of learner’s licences and bribery increases around this time.
“We warn officials and members of the public to desist from corrupt behaviour, which is a major damper to our efforts of maintaining safer roads. Our anti-corruption agents will be deployed and the instruction to them is to show no mercy and arrest both corruptor and corruptee,” she said.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation also warned motorists to drive carefully in the wet weather in some parts of the country.
“The December period is generally characterised by summer rainfall in South Africa and motorists should make sure that their vehicles have properly functioning windscreen wipers and that brakes and tyres are in good condition,” it said.
Protect yourself, your loved ones and everyone on the road by making sure your vehicle is safe to drive.#SaferFestiveSeason #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/bnatZxI8wt
— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) December 18, 2023
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