Roadblocks to target drunk drivers, extra safety resources for season

THE City’s safety and security directorate and traffic authority promised to go out of their way to ensure people enjoy a safe festive season on the roads and at beaches.

Roadblocks will continue to target drunk drivers and unroadworthy vehicles while 1 621 metro police, law enforcement and traffic officers will enforce the various by-laws and support the police.

Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said additional resources would be deployed on days like the Day of Goodwill and New Year’s Eve. “Officers will focus on road safety, including drunk driving and will step up patrols in the vicinity of places of entertainment, routes to and from major shopping centres, tourist attractions, business and residential areas to combat property crimes, while also maintaining a presence along main routes to and from our popular beaches,” he said.

Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said they would set up roadblocks across the province where drivers would be screened for alcohol and the roadworthiness of long-distance taxis would be checked.

“No drivers will ever take chances again and gamble with people’s lives while driving drunk. That is the main cause of road accidents. We will thoroughly check roadworthiness of long-distance taxis as we know that is where most road deaths occur during the festive season as people are going out on holiday,” he said.

There were 23 people killed on the country’s roads at the weekend, 15 in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, while eight were killed in the Western Cape. Africa said the eight included a motorcyclist in Worcester, three passengers in Caledon and a Paternoster pedestrian. michael.nkalane@inl.co.za

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