The Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), together with other law enforcement agencies, arrested more than 100 pedestrians during intensified pedestrian safety operations conducted across the province between May 18 and 25.

The provincial police added that 37 warnings were issued, while seven pedestrians were issued with J534 notices for contravening road traffic regulations.

According to provincial police, the arrested pedestrians were detained at various police stations across Gauteng following targeted operations aimed at reducing road crashes and fatalities caused by pedestrians crossing freeways unlawfully.

GTP stated that the operations were conducted on major freeways across the province, including:

• N17 between Springs and Emalahleni
• N1 Polokwane Freeway between Sefako Makgatho Drive and Hammanskraal
• R80 Mabopane Freeway between Block XX and Es’kia Mphahlele Drive
• N4 Freeway towards Emalahleni between Rossouw Off-Ramp and Solomon Mahlangu Drive
• N14 Freeway between Diepsloot and the Randburg Off-Ramp
• N3 Freeway between Barry Marais and the Lenasia Off-Ramp
• N1 Bloemfontein Freeway from Grasmere Toll Plaza towards Johannesburg
• N1 Freeway between Samrand and the Buccleuch Interchange

The provincial police said that pedestrian-related crashes remain one of the major contributing factors to fatalities on Gauteng’s roads, with jaywalking on freeways posing a serious risk to both pedestrians and motorists.

“Freeways are designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, and it is illegal for pedestrians and hitchhikers to walk or cross on these roads.

“Law enforcement agencies will continue to intensify operations to enforce compliance with road traffic laws and promote safer road user behaviour across the province,” explained GTP.

GTP has urged members of the public to use designated pedestrian bridges, zebra crossings, and other safe crossing points.

The provincial police have encouraged pedestrians to remain vigilant by looking left, right, and left again before crossing the road.