Our provisional festive season road statistics reflect the persistent recklessness of some road users, despite the significant enforcement and awareness efforts of our Provincial Traffic Services. 

Since the beginning of December, 76 people have died on the roads in the Western Cape, compared to 77 during the same period last year.

Thirty-four (45%) of the people who died were pedestrians, highlighting how it is often the most vulnerable road users who are at risk. The remaining fatalities were 26 passengers (34%), 14 drivers (18%), and 2 motorcyclists (3%). 

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families mourning the untimely loss of these loved ones.

Many of the traffic incidents causing these fatalities could have been prevented by simple actions that the majority of road users follow: check your vehicle and tyres, buckle up, do NOT drink and drive, do NOT speed or take chances overtaking dangerously, and stop and rest when you are tired or every 200km. 

As we head into another long weekend, we implore everyone travelling to take care prepare for being safe on the road. 

Our preliminary analysis shows that a number of the fatal crashes have involved drivers losing control of their vehicles. This suggests they could have been distracted while driving, using their cell phone, or falling asleep at the wheel. 

We have noticed that more incidents are happening during the day, instead of at nighttime. Our team is monitoring this emerging trend closely, and we have appealed to road users to take just as much care during the daytime as they normally would at night. 

Although there have been road crashes recorded all over the province, many of them have taken place in the Metro, Garden Route, Cape Winelands, and on the West Coast.

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Officers are deployed to specific locations on the major routes, where we know there is a probability of crashes occurring due to speeding and or reckless and negligent driving. 

This is based on our predictive analysis system, using integrated technology and data. These deployments have already mitigated against reckless drivers harming other road users and themselves, and we will continue with our evidence-based operations to save lives this festive season.
 

Results from WC Provincial Traffic Services – 1 to 20 December 2023

Provincial Traffic Services conducted 960 integrated roadblocks, vehicle check points and speed control operations; and stopped and checked 112 456 vehicles across the Western Cape.

A total of 35 951 fines were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver to vehicle fitness. Fifty vehicles were impounded and 339 were discontinued for being found to be unroadworthy.

A total of 673 speeding offences were recorded, with the following highest speeds:
• 182km/h in a 120km/h zone
• 144km/h in a 100km/h zone 
• 125km/h in an 80km/h zone
• 104km/h in a 70km/h zone
• 104km/h in a 60km/h zone
• 79km/h in a 40km/h zone

A total of 322 arrests were made for the following offences:
• 226 x driving under the influence of alcohol
• 4 x speeding
• 25 x reckless and negligent driving 
• 11 x goods overloading
• 41 x possession of fraudulent documentation
• 3 x attempting to bribe a traffic officer
• 2 x resisting arrest
• 2 x obstructing or hindering an authorised officer in the execution of his or her duty
• 1 x person wilfully preventing, hindering or interfering with flow of traffic
• 1 x undocumented person
• 1 x fail to furnish information 
• 1 x crimen injuria
• 1 x impersonating an authorised officer
• 2 x possession of illegal substance (dagga)
• 1 x possession of crayfish tails

A total of 65 crashes and 76 fatalities were recorded, including: 
• 14 x drivers
• 2 x motorcyclist 
• 26 x passengers
• 34 x pedestrians