MBOMBELA – Drivers who don’t obey the law should keep in mind this festive season, that the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) will track them down.
Premier Mr David Mabuza was responding to questions on road safety during an oral question-and-answer session in the provincial legislature on November 20.
“One of the contributing factors for drivers not to obey the rules on the roads, is that there has been no effective follow up for those who break the law,” he said in response to a question by Mr Victor Windvoël, ANC MPL.
The province’s new automated number-plate system allows DCSSL to track down drivers who are issued with summons and ignore them. For this coming festive season the department also plans to intensify road-safety campaigns.
Initiatives include rest stops, roadblocks, speed operations, warrants of arrest to be executed and increased border control in conjunction with the SAPS.
In December last year, the increased visibility of law enforcement was credited for leading to a reduction in car accidents on the province’s roads as compared with the same period in 2012. DCSSL MEC Mr Vusi Shongwe said a total of 567 accidents were recorded in Mpumalanga from December 1 to 31 in 2013, while 591 were recorded for the same period in 2012.
The resulting fatalities totalled 109 in 2013 as compared with the previous year’s 130. The department said its operations led to 1 518 motorists being served with written notices for dangerous overtaking, 14 075 fined for speeding, and 3 193 fines issued for faulty tyres.
The most problematic roads in the province are the N3, N4, N11, N12, R33, R40, R573 and D797.
