Key Points:
- Over 500 drivers arrested for traffic offenses, with 111 arrests in the Eastern Cape.
- No fatal crashes on the N1 despite high traffic volumes over Easter.
- Road safety campaigns show positive results, with multiple arrests and fines issued.
Traffic Arrests and Fines
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced that law enforcement officers arrested 512 drivers and issued 21,607 traffic fines over the Easter weekend. The arrests were for offenses such as drunk driving and speeding. Among those arrested, 111 drunk drivers were taken into custody in the Eastern Cape alone.
Creecy spoke to the media on Monday at the Kranskop Toll Gate, located between Bela-Bela and Modimolle. She highlighted that the N1 had the busiest traffic during Easter, with volumes reaching their highest levels in the past five years. The surge in traffic occurred because millions of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members traveled to Moria for the first mass pilgrimage since COVID-19 restrictions ended.
No Fatal Crashes Despite Peak Traffic
Despite the high traffic volumes, which peaked at 2,047 vehicles per hour on Thursday and Friday, no fatal crashes occurred on the N1 during the period. This outcome was rare for one of the country’s most hazardous routes. Creecy attributed the success to effective law enforcement strategies and improved behavior from motorists.
Concerns Over Bribery Incident
However, Creecy raised concerns about an incident in Mokopane. A driver arrested for drunk driving attempted to bribe National Traffic Police officers. The driver now faces charges of bribery, corruption, and drunk driving. Creecy commended the officers for their professionalism, urging others to follow their example to restore public confidence in traffic law enforcement.
Road Safety Campaigns Proving Effective
While full statistics on crashes and fatalities are still being verified, early indications suggest the road safety campaigns have been effective. Aside from a major crash in Mpumalanga on Thursday, which resulted in six fatalities, no incidents with five or more fatalities occurred during the first two days of the Easter travel period.
Ongoing Road Safety Campaign Success
From March 20 to April 18, as part of the broader Easter road safety campaign, authorities stopped and checked 782,397 vehicles. They issued 116,013 traffic fines and arrested 3,514 drivers for offenses such as drunk driving, excessive speeding, and falsified documentation. Law enforcement also arrested 89 pedestrians for jaywalking and impounded 2,448 vehicles for various violations.
Creecy highlighted one particularly severe case in the Eastern Cape. A driver in Tsolo registered a breath alcohol content of 2.38 milligrams per 1,000 milliliters, nearly 10 times the legal limit.
Praise for Law Enforcement Efforts
She praised the traffic officers for their success during the Easter weekend. She also thanked civil society organizations, churches, and other stakeholders for their collaboration in promoting road safety.
AA’s Positive Response
The Automobile Association (AA) commended the absence of fatal crashes on the N1. The AA spokesperson, Eleanor Mavimbela, called it a promising step forward in South Africa’s ongoing road safety efforts.
“This marks a positive change in the ongoing national effort to improve road safety,” Mavimbela said. “While final figures are still pending, we have enough evidence to acknowledge the public’s role in reversing a concerning trend.”
