- A total of 108 people have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol this week.
- MEC for Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie urged the public to refrain from drinking and driving.
- 17 pedestrians and 14 passengers died in various crashes.
Western Cape traffic officers arrested 108 people this week on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
MEC for Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie urged the public to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol, saying that even small amounts of alcohol can affect people's judgment.
"Please never drink and drive. If you plan to drink, find a safer way to get home," he said.
Over the past long weekend, 17 pedestrians and 14 passengers died in various crashes.
"If you are a pedestrian, make sure you wear visible clothing, especially at night and when visibility is poor. Don't walk under the influence along any road. Please find a safer way to get home. If you are driving, always buckle up and ensure that everyone else in your vehicle is buckled up, even on short trips," the MEC warned.
Provincial Traffic Services said inspectors conducted 320 integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, and speed control operations between 18 and 26 December, 2023.
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Officials stopped and checked 45 302 vehicles across the Western Cape.
A total of 14 993 fines were issued for various traffic violations, ranging from driver to vehicle fitness. Thirty-one vehicles were impounded and 234 were discontinued for being unroadworthy.
A total of 374 speeding offences were also recorded.
During the same period, 31 crashes and 37 fatalities were recorded, including four drivers, two motorcyclists, 14 passengers and 17 pedestrians.
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A total of 172 arrests were also made for the following offences:
- 108 x driving under the influence of alcohol;
- 14 x speeding;
- 17 x reckless and negligent driving;
- 1 x goods overloading;
- 20 x possession of fraudulent documentation;
- 2 x resisting arrest;
- 2 x obstructing or hindering an authorised officer in the execution of his or her duty;
- 2 x failure to furnish information;
- 1 x crimen injuria;
- 1 x impersonating an authorised officer;
- 1 x possession of abalone;
- 1 x possession of crayfish tails; and
- 2 x possession of an illegal substance.