In total 139 people tragically lost their life on Western Cape Roads over the festive season, a 15,24% decrease from last year’s 164 fatalities.
Similarly, the number of fatal crashes dropped from 142 to 123.
Pedestrians account for the highest number of fatalities, followed by passengers and then drivers.
These numbers were released by Western Cape Mobility minister Isaac Sileku yesterday (27 January).
Condoling the grief of the families who lost loved ones Sileku said the statistics is a stark reminder of the persistent challenges the department faces.
“We cannot accept this reality and must intensify our collective efforts to change it,” he said.
During this time, the Western Cape Traffic Department deployed 701 officers supported by 356 vehicles across the province. Their efforts were complemented by the national traffic police, which deployed 82 officers and 17 vehicles, and the City of Cape Town, with 341 officers and 310 vehicles dedicated to managing traffic flow within the Metro, according to Sileku.
Different focus
In total 1 695 integrated traffic law enforcement operations were conducted, compared to 2 207 during the previous festive season.
“The focus of the festive season law enforcement differed from previous years, moving away from static operations to increased visibility through sector patrolling. This created a sense of increased law enforcement presence which led to improved road user behaviour,” he said.
“Officers also prioritised high-visibility patrols during nighttime and in hazardous locations, particularly on the N1, N2, and in high-risk Metro areas like Khayelitsha (N2) and Woodstock (N1).”
Furthermore, operations across the province led to the inspection of over 215 000 vehicles, of which 905 arrests were made, including 627 for driving under the influence of alcohol, up from 576 last year, with males aged 18 to 35 the majority of offenders.
Despite over 35 000 alcohol screenings conducted over the season, Sileku said drunk driving remains a major contributor to road carnage.
Other arrests included speeding, reckless and negligent driving, and fraudulent documentation.
“A total of 72 438 fines were issued for various traffic violations, a slight improvement compared to over 87 000 fines last year. However, 72 000 fines remain a cause for concern and demonstrate that driver behaviour still needs significant improvement.”
Additionally, 1 062 public transport vehicles were tested at key hubs, including Joe Gqabi and Bellville stations, as well as the Intercape Bus Depot.
“Our collective efforts, supported by our partners and stakeholders, have made a measurable impact. The 15,24% reduction in fatalities is a testament to the dedication of our traffic officers, enforcement partners, and road safety educators.”
