In the past two weeks the Gauteng Traffic Police’s high-speed unit has arrested over 25 speedsters on Gauteng’s major routes.

These drivers were found driving negligently and/ or recklessly, and failed to adhere to the prescribed speed limit of 120km/h on major freeways such as the N1, N4, R21, M1 and N14.

The driver of a white Porche was apprehended on the N4 towards Mpumalanga on January 25. The 47-year-old man was caught travelling at 204km/h and was detained at the Bronkhorstspruit Police Station.

On January 28 the Gauteng Traffic Police also arrested a driver for being under the influence of alcohol on the R553 Golden Highway. The driver had an alcohol reading of 1,02mg/l and was involved in an accident which caused serious injuries to other road users.

The speedsters were arrested on the spot and taken to various police stations where they were formally charged with reckless and/ or negligent driving, and an alternative charge of exceeding the general speed limit.

“Most of them have appeared in various magistrates’ courts around Bronkhorstspruit and Tshwane, while those arrested during the weekend are expected to appear this coming week,” said a statement from the Gauteng Traffic Police.

Their spokesperson Sello Maremane said, “Excessive speeding is one of the contributory factors to road crashes leading to fatalities. Driver behaviour and attitude on our roads are major concerns to law-enforcement authorities, which therefore call for the strengthening of road safety education. Many of these arrested speedsters were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, which poses a danger to the lives of road users.”

He added that their high-speed unit will intensify their patrols on the freeways, streets and public places in clearly marked vehicles as a means to prevent road traffic violations.