POLOKWANE – The Department of Transport and Community Safety says they are expecting an increase in traffic volumes on all roads leading to and within Limpopo over the next few days.

“As the festive season is now in full swing and schools and most organisations closed for the holidays, we urge all road users to obey the rules of the road in support of #projectEDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death),” said transport spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene.

To ensure your safety on the roads, Chuene urged motorists to plan their trips, allow for regular breaks to avoid fatigue, ensure all vehicle occupants are wearing seatbelts and for drivers to be patient and avoid reckless and negligent behaviour.

“Road fatalities and serious injuries have a devastating impact on South African society, often resulting in the loss of breadwinners and important contributors to the economy. To address this, the Department is implementing a robust festive season road safety and traffic law enforcement plan. This plan aims to reduce offences leading to crashes and promote safe road user behaviour through voluntary compliance with traffic regulations. Our law enforcement officers have already made significant strides in promoting road safety and combating traffic infringements through this plan,” she said.

Since December 1, the department and its officials have done the following:

• Stopped and checked 89 420 vehicles.
• Arrested 54 drivers for drunken driving.
• Charged 738 drivers for overloading passengers and goods and
• Charged 2 490 drivers for speeding (including a driver arrested for travelling at 188km/h in a 120km/h zone on the N1 in the Waterberg District).

“These statistics demonstrate our zero-tolerance approach to traffic infringements and serve as a warning to those planning to travel in the coming days. Let us work together to ensure a safe and enjoyable festive season for all,” Chuene concluded.