Cape Town - Illegal street racing is to blame for the deaths of three people, the City of Cape Town says.
The city’s Traffic Services department said yesterday that illegal street racers had caused mayhem in a number of areas over the weekend.
On Saturday two passengers in a car died when it crashed into the back of another vehicle in Voortrekker Road, Factreton. The driver was unharmed and the other motorist sustained serious injuries.
In another incident, a pedestrian was killed and another seriously injured when they were run over by a speedster in a hit-and-run incident in Mitchells Plain.
The driver of the Nissan Skyline ran over the two pedestrians and sped off, the city said.
On the R300, near Delft, a speeding driver crashed into a lamp post. The road was closed for several hours.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the deaths could have been avoided if motorists had stuck to the rules.
“The reckless actions of a few individuals result in the sort of carnage that we witnessed this past weekend.
“This weekend alone, three lives could have been saved if people (had) adhered to the rules of the road. The city uses all of the resources at our disposal to focus on policing and enforcement, but this alone cannot save lives and ensure safer roads.”
In Grassy Park, a man was arrested for reckless and negligent driving after speeding at 180km/h on Prince George Drive. He was spotted by officers and chased into 5th Avenue where he jumped traffic lights at the Zeekoei Road intersection.
Smith said the man had had previous run-ins with the law.
“It is extremely frustrating because enforcement has to be supported by a justice system that holds criminals to account.
“Even if a suspect is arrested for reckless and negligent driving – as has been the case with this motorist in the past – bail is fairly easy to come by and soon they are back on the roads acting as a danger to others.”
Six other motorists were arrested for reckless and negligent driving in Mitchells Plain, Ottery, Grassy Park and Athlone – all related to illegal street racing, the city said.
Cape Argus