Over 1 000 road users have been arrested and 900 vehicles were impounded in law enforcement operations conducted in all nine provinces since the start of the Easter holidays.
The arrests related to various offences, such as drunken driving, producing false driving documentation, driving recklessly, operating on the roads without driving permits and the overloading of both goods and passengers. Vehicles were impounded mainly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga for violation of public transport operating permits.
A total of 75 961 vehicles were stopped and checked and 916 927 drivers were issued with traffic fines for various infringements. One of the major concerns during this period was unroadworthy vehicles, and 274 vehicles with defects being discontinued, said Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesman, Simon Zwane.
“The Easter weekend is associated with increased traffic volumes as pilgrimages and holiday makers take advantage of the public holidays to visit family or go on vacation. However, this surge in traffic poses significant road safety challenges. Authorities often warn motorists to exercise caution due to the high volumes of vehicles on the roads,” said Mr Zwane.
“Increased traffic volumes were experienced on Thursday and Friday (March 28 and 29) from approximately 10am with the N1 North and N3 South recording an average of 2 000 vehicles passing through various tollgates per hour. The N4 East recorded 1 900, while N1 South recorded an average of 1 000 vehicles.”
Ninety people have lost their lives in road accidents since the start of the Easter holidays.
Mr Zwane said Limpopo recorded the highest number of deaths after a bus plunged 50 meters off a bridge into a ravine on Thursday March 28, and 45 people died in the accident. An eight-year-old girl was the only survivor. She sustained serious injuries but is now in a stable condition.
