Johannesburg - Since the start of the festive season travel period on December 1, more than 2 000 motorists have been arrested across the country for various driving offences.
According to statistics collected by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), 2 241 motorists have been arrested for, among other things, drunken driving, exceeding speed limits, driving without a licence, and the violation of permits.
The corporation said this comes as the country prepares for the second peak in traffic volumes on national roads this week as more travellers will be making their way to various destinations for the festive period.
“Evidence shows that some motorists continue to operate unroadworthy vehicles on public roads, placing the lives of other motorists at risk. More than 4 200 vehicles have since been discontinued from operating,” the RTMC.
“A total of 324 motorists were arrested for drunken driving. The highest alcohol arrest was in Gauteng, between Lever and New Road in Midrand. The suspect’s alcohol reading was recorded at 3.99 mg/1 000 ml.”
The RTMC said the “highest speeding arrest” occurred on the N1 route to Bloemfontein, in the Free State, on December 8, when a motorist was caught driving at 191km/h in a 120km/h zone. The motorist is out on bail of R3 500.
The AA warned that unless road users obey the rules of the road, incidents will, unfortunately, continue to occur unabated throughout the festive period.
“This time of the year is sadly always characterised by a significant increase in traffic crashes that result in many fatalities. While traffic law enforcement is intensified during this period, these efforts alone will not result in a meaningful improvement in road safety.
“Poor driver behaviour is the leading cause of crashes and fatalities on South African roads, and unless all road users – drivers, passengers, those on motorbikes, cyclists, and pedestrians – take responsibility for their actions, our country’s dire road safety situation will simply not improve,” the AA said.
Along with obeying the rules of the road, the AA said, road users must be patient and courteous, and they should set an example for others, particularly youngsters.
“Good behaviour on the roads is learned through the actions of others, and if more experienced road users have a disregard for the rules, are aggressive towards others, and show no respect for traffic law enforcers, this behaviour is passed on to the next generation.
“There are many challenges facing road safety in South Africa, but motorists and other road users can help to deal with these by being positive role models,” said the AA.
The association also notes that personal safety remains a worry, especially on high-traffic roads.
“We have heard of several incidents throughout the year where motorists have been targeted and either been physically hurt, had their vehicles and possessions stolen, or both.
“We would advise all travellers to carefully plan their routes and to take extra precautions when on the road. Among those precautions is to ensure they have proper security back-up if they need it,” said the AA.
The Star