MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 167 / 2010
08 MARCH 2010


The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services is referring to the past few days on the city’s roads as a ‘black weekend’. The irresponsible actions of drivers led to the death and injury of many innocent people. In addition, many drivers were arrested for negligent driving, and over a thousand fines were issued.

Six people died as a result of injuries sustained in car accidents this weekend. On Saturday 06 March, a 25-year-old pedestrian was killed while walking on the R300 and two occupants of a vehicle that crashed into a tree on Boyes Drive burnt to death, while another died when thrown from the vehicle on impact.

A woman(63) was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning when her vehicle collided with a bus shelter and then a palm tree on Klipfontein Road. It is alleged that she was hit from behind and forced off the road by two drivers ‘dicing’ near the notorious ‘Indiana’ parking area.

On Sunday 07 March, the 26-year old driver of a Renault Mégane was killed and two passengers seriously injured when the driver of an LDV travelling on the N1 outgoing near the Okavango Road turn-off lost control and crossed over the centre median colliding head-on with the Mégane.

Over the weekend, City Traffic Officers conducted road blocks in Athlone, Ottery and the Table Bay Boulevard. Speed checks were held on the M5, Ottery Road and Table Bay Boulevard and 1081 speeding fines were issued, with speeds of 172 km/h and 124 km/h being recorded. Two motorists were arrested for reckless or negligent driving when they were caught travelling at 148 km/h and 185 km/h along Table Bay Boulevard.

In addition, another driver was arrested for reckless or negligent driving when he was involved in an accident; three motorists were arrested for ‘dicing’; another three for drunk driving; one for inconsiderate driving and one for wheel-spinning. A further 24 drivers were charged for not wearing their safety belts and talking on their cell phones while driving and 110 fines were issued for other traffic violations. Seven vehicles were suspended for mechanical defects.

“We appeal to all road users- pedestrians, cyclists, motor cyclists and drivers of vehicles- to please be vigilant. Drivers of vehicles in particular must drive with due care and consideration for other road users,” says media spokesperson for Cape Town Traffic Services, Chief Inspector Merle Lourens.


END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT
CITY OF CAPE TOWN


MEDIA QUERIES:
MERLE LOURENS
CHIEF INSPECTOR: TRAFFIC SERVICES
TEL: 021 918 2514 CELL: 072 200 1512

KEVIN JACOBS
TRAFFIC SERVICES
TEL: 021 918 2310 CELL: 083 264 9661