Crackdown on reckless EC drivers

500 motorists arrested in first weeks of December

MORE than 500 motorists have been arrested on Eastern Cape roads since December 1 for driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and other road offences.

They were among the 3 000 people arrested countrywide.

Both national and provincial road and traffic authorities have issued a stern warning to transgressors, saying the crackdown would continue for the duration of the festive season.

The provincial department of transport has also cautioned motorists to take care travelling on the province’s roads as the influx of visitors to the Eastern Cape is expected to increase this week.

The warning comes as more than 200 cars an hour are expected to pass over the Aliwal North bridge during the week as holidaymakers head to the province.

South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) spokesman Vusi Mona said that after an initial holiday rush on December 15, traffic volumes were expected to increase from Thursday.

He said the busiest route was expected to be between East London and Mthatha.

“Increased traffic volumes are expected on December 21 on the N2 south from Mthatha to East London.

“Extreme traffic volumes are expected on December 22 and 26 with a slight reduction on December 27 and 28.”

Mona said the expected peak travel times over the December-January period were based on historical data “and traffic modelling spotlights on these dates and routes”.

Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana said the province was expecting many more visitors as Christmas Day approached. “We have reinforced our capacity. “We have two testing trucks that will be rotating around the national roads to test cars, and if they are found unroadworthy they will be removed from the road immediately,” she said.

Tikana said most of her department’s efforts would be directed along the N2, which links Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, East London, Mthatha and Kokstad; the N6 which links East London, Queenstown, Aliwal North and Bloemfontein; the R61 which connects Port St Johns to Queenstown via Mthatha; and the coastal R72 route between East London and Port Elizabeth.

The department said it welcomed additional traffic officers from the national department to boost numbers over the festive season.

Figures released yesterday by provincial traffic authorities revealed that traffic officers had stopped more than 50 000 cars and issued more than 18 000 tickets and 714 warrants of arrest.

On Sunday alone, officers stopped 34 575 motorists. A total of 4 042 drivers were given tickets while 28 were arrested for various offences.

In Buffalo City Metro, 15 motorists were arrested for drunken driving on Sunday.

The provincial South African Police Services is also doing its bit to ensure the safety of citizens, and recently launched its Safer Festive Season campaign.

Officers have been deployed to shopping malls while operations targeting crime would continue in major towns and cities across the Eastern Cape.

SAPS provincial spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the province had welcomed 570 cadets who had recently successfully completed the Basic Police Development Learning Programme.

Tikana said even though the season was meant to be “jolly” the safety of motorists and pedestrians on the roads depended on others obeying the rules.

“We must make sure that at all times we comply with the law. Each and every life is important. One life is too many lost on our roads due to behaviour that can be avoided.” —