Nearly 19 000 traffic officers deployed – these routes will be closely monitored
Law enforcement officers will ensure that there is high visibility of law enforcement operations
A total of 18 819 traffic officers will be deployed on South Africa’s roads, particularly on hazardous routes, to ensure the safety of road users this Easter long weekend, says the Department of Transport.
The department on Thursday said it expected an increase in traffic on the main routes from Gauteng such as the N1, N3 and N4, with thousands of pilgrims and holidaymakers travelling to church gatherings and holiday destinations.
“During the same period last year, traffic volumes increased on these routes from 1 046 780 in 2015 to 1 248 824 in 2016, marking an increase of 202 044.
“Currently the national department, through the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), manages a total of 12.2 million registered vehicles, 309 768 registered taxis and 61 841 registered buses – with a total of 12.2 million licensed drivers,” the department said.
It is for this reason that the department has appealed to all road users to be vigilant on the road during the Easter long weekend. The department said it would also galvanise its road safety education and law enforcement operations to ensure that motorists, passengers and pedestrians comply with traffic rules.
“Our law enforcement officers will ensure that there is high visibility of law enforcement operations and road safety education and awareness on routes,” the department said.
National and major provincial routes and corridors, which will be intensely monitored based on the previous year’s major crashes’ statistics are:
• R573 (Moloto Road)
• N1 (Laingsburg – Cape Town)
• N1 (Tshwane – Polokwane)
• N1 (Johannesburg – Bloemfontein)
• N2 (Mthatha – Port Elizabeth)
• N3 (Johannesburg – Durban)
• N4 (Tshwane – Lebombo border)
• N5 (Winburg – Harrismith)
• N6 (Bloemfontein – East London)
• N14 (Klerksdorp – Kimberly)
• N11 (Middelburg – Groblersdal)
• N12 (Klerksdorp – Wolmaranstad)
• R61 (Beaufort west – Mthatha)
• R30 (Bloemfontein, Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp)
• R80 (Mabobane – Tswhane)
• R378 (Vryburg)
• R101 (Hammanskraal – Polokwane), alternative route to N1
