Over the past week, arrests for drunk driving in Cape Town revealed a ‘disturbing increase’, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This is according to Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security. The City’s enforcement agencies (traffic, Metro Police and law enforcement) made 399 arrests and issued 41 228 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions in one week.
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Arrests for drunk driving increased to 60. ‘We’re not halfway through the month and our drunk driving arrests [are] showing a disturbing increase. These figures are usually indicative of the end of the month or a payday weekend when drivers are less cautious than they should be,’ Smith said.
‘The long weekend likely played a role, although it (…) is poor form, considering the conditions on the roads this past weekend.’
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Smith warns road users that traffic officials have boosted their operations. ‘We are working smarter and integrating technology into our traffic operations, like the Eye in the Sky, to ensure our roads are safer for all users.
‘The City has free programmes at clinics for those who want to kick the habit of alcohol abuse. Drunk driving destroys lives, apart from the astronomical economic losses in terms of injuries and fatalities.
‘If you cannot make the responsible choice to drive sober, then choose to get help.’
Traffic officers arrested 55 people, of which 40 accounted for driving under the influence. Five were arrested for reckless driving and 10 for other transgressions.
In addition, 12 814 speeding offences were recorded and 22 391 fines were issued for traffic violations. A total of 2 041 warrants were executed and 163 public transport vehicles were impounded.
Law enforcement officers arrested 262 people. While on patrol, a 24-year-old man was found in a freshly dug trench along the Stellenbosch Arterial road – a known hot spot for cable theft.
The man was taken to Belhar station and two 10-metre-long copper cables, two spades and a hacksaw were confiscated.
Metro Police officers arrested 82 suspects and issued 2 477 traffic and by-law fines.
Over the weekend, 1 343 incidents were recorded at the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre. This figure includes 72 cases of assault, 54 domestic violence calls and 47 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
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