KEY POINTS
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More than 500 motorists were arrested for road offences during Easter safety operations.
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Limpopo’s N1 route recorded no fatal crashes for the first time in recent history.
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Eastern Cape recorded the highest number of drunk driving arrests with 111 cases.
Authorities arrested more than 500 motorists for various traffic offences during the road safety campaign for the Easter holiday.
Offences included drunk driving, speeding, and violations related to public driver’s and other transport permits nationwide.
The arrests followed a sharp increase in road traffic as thousands of holidaymakers travelled across the country.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy briefed the media at the Kranskop Toll Plaza on the N1 highway in Limpopo. She praised the effectiveness of the plan for deploying road safety measures implemented during the busy Easter period.
The minister commended law enforcement for their work and highlighted Limpopo’s improved road safety outcomes this year.
“This is a rare occurrence on this route,” she said of the N1’s record of zero fatal crashes.
“It speaks of the effectiveness of our law enforcement and deployment plan in improving road safety outcomes,” she added.
Drunk driving arrests rise sharply in the Eastern Cape
Creecy revealed that officials issued more than 20,000 traffic fines during the Easter campaign for road safety.
She said authorities took permit violations and other related offences very seriously during this operation. “The highest number of drunk drivers is still in the Eastern Cape,” she noted.
She said law enforcement in the province arrested 111 people for driving under the influence of alcohol. Officers also arrested several individuals with outstanding warrants and unresolved traffic offences.
Traffic police intensified checkpoints across high-risk routes as part of the seasonal operation, SABC reported.
Gauteng records 18 crashes and 19 deaths during Easter
Gauteng traffic police spokesperson Obed Sibasa confirmed three additional fatal crashes in the province during Easter. He said the total reached 18 fatal crashes and 19 deaths, with 11 victims being pedestrians.
“The talk of contributing factors—speed, driving under the influence, and fatigue—for now, those are our main contributing factors,” he said.
Sibasa said law enforcement agencies are working hard to reduce road deaths and promote safer travel.
“We would rather not be picking up body packs on our freeways,” he said. “What do you want to see? People driving or walking out to different destinations and coming back safely,” he asked.
Officials reminded road users to obey traffic laws and drive with caution throughout the rest of the holiday season.
