Traffic officers have noticed an improvement in driver’s attitudes during the festive season. This is according to Municipal Manager Nonhlanhla Njoko who released the Protection Services statistics last week. Local traffic officers made five arrests during the holiday period, one for overloading and four for drunk driving.

A total of 194 fines were issued. The common road misdemeanours included parking offences such as double parking, parking in entrances and on red lines. Other offences, classified as moving offences, included driving while speaking on a cellphone, making U-turns in a prohibited area, overloading, driving without a driver’s licence, unlicensed vehicles and disregarding traffic signs.

Most of these offences were concentrated in the central business district, especially in Harding Street. The busiest days for traffic officers were on Fridays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Commenting on driver and pedestrian behaviour, Ms Njoko said: “The overall attitude of drivers was much better as compared to the previous years and it shows that the behaviour of the motorists are improving. There is still a challenge when it comes to the pedestrian’s behaviour towards the road rules.”