Crackdown on drunk drivers and pedestrians crossing highways
Reckless driving and illegal pedestrian activity are two causes of serious accidents on Tshwane's roads.
The TMPD has intensified its efforts to promote road safety ahead of the festive season, with a weekend blitz that resulted in 110 arrests across key hotspots in the metro.
The operation targeted reckless driving and illegal pedestrian activity, which are two persistent causes of serious accidents on the city’s roads.
According to the MMC for Community Safety, Alderman Hannes Coetzee, the operations formed part of the metro’s broader safety strategy to ensure law and order as traffic volumes begin to rise ahead of the holidays.
Coetzee commended TMPD officers, saying, “As we approach the festive season, the TMPD will intensify its visibility and enforcement to deter lawlessness and protect our residents.
“The safety of our people is not negotiable; our metro will not yield to those who disregard the law.”
Out of the 110 arrests, 63 motorists were apprehended for driving under the influence of alcohol, a troubling indicator of ongoing disregard for traffic laws despite repeated awareness campaigns.
The MMC stressed that drunk driving remains one of the leading contributors to road fatalities in the city and that offenders will face the full might of the law.
Forty-seven pedestrians were arrested for walking illegally along the N1 and N4 highways, areas strictly off-limits due to the extreme danger they pose to both motorists and pedestrians.
The metro police warned that such behaviour often leads to fatal accidents, particularly at night when visibility is reduced.
Spokesperson Superintendent Issac Mahamba emphasised that these arrests were not just about punishment but also prevention.
The goal, according to Mahamba, is to save lives by promoting responsible road use and changing the culture of recklessness that too often leads to tragedy.
The department urged residents to take personal responsibility for road safety and report any unsafe behaviour.
“Every accident prevented means a life saved,” he said.
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