Gauteng traffic police call for adherence to road rules and regulations

Statistics reveal a blatant disregard for the rules of the road often resulting in fatalities especially on weekends, the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) revealed this week.

“Excessive speeding, jay-walking, reckless and negligent driving, distracted driving while using a cellphone and driving under the influence of alcohol all contribute to fatal crashes,” said GTP spokesperson spokesperson Sello Maremane.

Maremane said the GTP will continue with roadblocks focusing on unroadworthy vehicles and drunk drivers in the upcoming months.

Some of the statistics he said they recorded from 1 October to 28 October included:

• Stopping and inspecting 29 000 vehicles and discontinuing 80 of them from operating on Gauteng roads due to their unroadworthy conditions
• Charging 14 338 drivers for committing various road traffic offences
• Impounding 17 public transport vehicles that were operating without operating licences
• Arresting 82 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol
• Arresting 37 drivers for reckless and negligent driving and excessive speeding
• Charging 1 140 vehicles and arresting three people for overloading after 19 900 vehicles were searched
• Recovering 10 stolen vehicles
• Arresting 18 suspects for a variety of crimes including, among others, possession of illegal firearms, drug dealing and theft of motor vehicles

Recent successes included two suspects arrested on Wednesday morning for fraud during a GTP operation on the N1 South freeway.

One suspect was arrested after he was found driving a car with a fraudulent license disc.

The other was found in possession of multiple identity documents and passports which could not be accounted for and driving without a driver’s licence.

He called on motorists to adhere to the rules and regulations of the roads.

“Road safety must always be at the top of road users’ priorities,” he said.

“The GTP will continue with roadblocks focusing on unroadworthy vehicles and drunk drivers in the months to come as these are some of the major contributing factors towards road fatalities.”