City aims to get pedestrian safety moving in the right direction
27 November 2023
The City’s Safety and Security Directorate is placing renewed focus on pedestrian safety, and keeping them off the roads, amid a worrisome increase in accidents involving those on foot. Read more below:
Over a 48-hour period this past weekend, the Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 82 road accidents – 28 of these involved pedestrians, up from 21 the weekend before.
Recently, the Centre also reported a 25% increase in pedestrian accidents year-on-year.
'The accident statistics, but also the number of complaints received about jaywalking, especially on the freeways, are cause for concern. Not only do pedestrians gamble with their own lives by walking in areas meant for motorised transport, but they are also putting the lives of vehicle occupants at risk, should a collision occur. And, while some are legitimate pedestrians walking from A to B, the reality is that criminal elements also loiter on the roadways, to target motorists. Just this weekend, Metro Police officers arrested three suspects who allegedly robbed a motorist stranded on the N2 inbound. The City's agencies conduct ongoing awareness and education around pedestrian safety. In recent months, they've increased their activities to also issue fines, in terms of national legislation, which prohibits pedestrian activity on the freeways and the road reserves adjacent to them, but also stopping to offload passengers,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
In August, the City's enforcement agencies recorded nearly 200 offences of pedestrians illegally utilising the N2, and vehicles illegally stopping to drop, or pick up passengers.
In the first three weeks of November, the Traffic Service has issued 283 fines for pedestrians utilising the freeway.
GENERAL ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
In the past week, the City's enforcement agencies made 349 arrests and issued 72 161 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
Law Enforcement officers made 209 arrests and issued 4 356 notices – 196 of the arrests were made by officers attached to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), including:
- On Saturday, 25 November, at approximately 23:30, officers on patrol in Makhaza were flagged down by a woman who had been robbed. She provided a description of the suspect, and officers soon found him. After a short foot chase, the suspect was apprehended and found in possession of a prohibited firearm, two smartphones and R160 in case. The 30-year-old suspect was detained at Harare SAPS.
- On Friday, 24 November, at approximately 23:47, officers conducting patrols in the Philippi area arrested a suspect for the possession of a prohibited firearm.
- On Thursday, 23 November, at approximately 21:00, officers arrested three suspects and confiscated three zip guns, in Heinz Park.
Metro Police officers made 67 arrests and issued 3 686 fines.
On Saturday, 25 November, officers on patrol on the N2 noticed a disturbance near a broken-down vehicle on the N2 inbound.
Three unknown males fled towards Bridgetown, Athlone, when they noticed the police presence.
Officers pursued the suspects, and detained them. It soon emerged that they had robbed a stranded motorist of his cellphone.
A 54-year-old man, found in possesion of the stolen phone was detained at Athlone SAPS.
Cape Town Traffic Services recorded 64 119 offences in the past week, impounded 272 vehicles and executed 3 262 warrants of arrest.
A total of 73 arrests were made – 67 for driving under the influence and six for reckless and negligent driving.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 2 223 incidents, including 122 fires, 196 cases of assault, 51 cases of domestic violence and 82 road accidents.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
