City of Cape Town busts road hogs

Feebearing - Cape Town - 150121 - The V&A Waterfront now has a permanent Traffic Official to help with the heavy flow of vehicles and pedestrians in the tourist hot spot. Pictured: One of the Cape Town Traffic Department Golf GTI's stationed outside the Victoria & Alfred Hotel in the Waterfront. REPORTER: ANEL LEWIS. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Feebearing - Cape Town - 150121 - The V&A Waterfront now has a permanent Traffic Official to help with the heavy flow of vehicles and pedestrians in the tourist hot spot. Pictured: One of the Cape Town Traffic Department Golf GTI's stationed outside the Victoria & Alfred Hotel in the Waterfront. REPORTER: ANEL LEWIS. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Published Mar 27, 2015

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Cape Town - The City of Cape Town on Friday announced the arrest of 24 suspects during a three-day operation targeting public transport operators who flout traffic laws.

“The City’s three-day peak-hour operation aimed at the public transport sector netted 24 arrests, more than 8 500 fines, and the impoundment of 31 vehicles,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

“We conducted the operation during peak hours only, so it boils down to 21 hours of enforcement. It must also be noted that the officers did not limit their enforcement to public transport vehicles and that the drivers of many private vehicles and motorcycles were fined for driver behaviour, while arrests were made for driving without a licence,” said Smith.

Smith said the results of the operation spoke volumes about road users’ behaviour.

“These numbers paint a very concerning picture about some of the issues in the taxi industry that need addressing beyond enforcement. Taxi owners are quick to point fingers at authorities, but I would challenge them to do some serious introspection about their responsibilities,” said Smith.

Of the fines issued, 6 370 were for speeding, 340 for overloaded vehicles, 331 for unlicensed drivers, and 173 for not having public driving permits.

“How can you, in good conscience, allow an unlicensed driver or one without a valid public driving permit to get behind the wheel of your asset, placing dozens of lives in jeopardy at a time?” said Smith.

Launched to address traffic violations by public transport operators - particularly in the minibus-taxi industry - operations occurred during morning and afternoon peak-time traffic.

The City would continue with “Operation Throttle” on an ad hoc basis in the following months.

African News Agency

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