Nine deaths on Cape roads at weekend

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Published Jan 16, 2017

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Cape Town – Nine people died on Western Cape roads the past weekend, a preliminary report from the provincial traffic services said on Monday.

"This includes three passengers who tragically lost their lives early morning in a crash in the Worcester area," the statement said.

Other fatalities included that of a driver on the N1 near Worcester and a pedestrian on the N7 in the Potsdam area on Friday.

On Saturday, two drivers were killed in separate crashes in Goodwood and Caledon, while a pedestrian and a cyclist were killed in Bonnievale and Worcester on Sunday.

Traffic officers arrested 15 motorists in George, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Worcester, Swellendam, Somerset West, and Caledon for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. They also arrested two people in Oudtshoorn, one for the possession of dagga and the other for the possession of mandrax.

Provincial transport department spokesman Byron La Hoe said: "Breath testing was performed on 1 534 drivers at 26 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Caledon service area. At 1.12 mg of alcohol/1,000 ml of breath, this is over four times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml."

Another four people were arrested, one in Knysna for producing false documentation, one in George for giving officers false information, and two in Worcester for the possession of stolen goods and for producing false documentation.

A total of 6 149 vehicles were screened for speeding and 675 speeding offences were recorded. A total of R321 300 worth of fines were issued for driving offences and vehicle fitness violations.

"The highest speeds recorded were 176 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the Brackenfell service area; 144 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the Mossel Bay service area; and 109 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in the Somerset West service area," La Hoe said.

African News Agency

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