New traffic by-law amendments aim to curb street racing and dangerous driving in Cape Town
New traffic by-law amendments in Cape Town aim to enhance road safety by allowing the impounding of vehicles involved in street racing, reckless driving, and other violations.
Image: Kendridge Mathabathe
Motorists caught street racing, driving under the influence or using false number plates could soon have their vehicles impounded as the City of Cape Town moves closer to tightening its traffic by-law.
The proposed amendments to the City’s Traffic By-law were approved by the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee this week following a public participation process last year.
The amendments will allow the City to impound vehicles involved in illegal street racing, reckless and negligent driving, drunk driving and cases where motorists are found operating vehicles without valid licences.
The City also wants powers to impound vehicles fitted with false number plates and motorists whose vehicles are found to be causing excessive noise in contravention of the existing by-law.
The latest provision dealing with excessive noise was added after the public participation process concluded.
Safety and Security Portfolio Committee chairperson Mzwakhe Nqavashe said the amendments were aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement and targeting motorists who disregard the law.
“We thank everyone who took the time to participate in the process designed to improve road safety in our city,” Nqavashe said.
He said the amendments would support a “no tolerance approach” to reckless driving behaviour.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the City continued receiving large volumes of complaints linked to dangerous driving behaviour.
“Our Traffic Service cannot keep up with the avalanche of complaints about driving behaviour,” Smith said.
“And that is why we have revised the by-law yet again, to enable our staff to take tougher action against those road users who appear incapable of showing any regard for law, order and the right to life of those around them.”
The public participation process, which ran between September and November last year, received 132 submissions, although only 24 related directly to the proposed amendments.
The amended by-law will now serve before the Mayoral Committee before being tabled at a full Council meeting for final approval before implementation.