Cape Town - With more than 200 stationary vehicles recorded on the notorious N2 highway a week - 10 percent of motorists stopping to use cellphones - the City has warned these vehicles may be easy targets for criminals.
Mayoral Committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the City was concerned about the high number of stationary vehicles on the highway, in spite of numerous appeals and warnings advising that it was not safe.
Cameras along the N2 detected 949 stationary vehicles over the last four weeks, an average of 237 a week.
City director of law enforcement Robbie Roberts said at every breakdown or vehicle issue, officers would have to stay with motorists for hours to ensure their safety. In the past week alone, officers had lost out on 48 hours of work while waiting with motorists, he said.
He added that there were about 15 police vehicles designated to service the N2.
“About 123 vehicles a week stop on the N2 to pick up and drop people, and some stop to speak on their cellphones, which is in contravention of the Road Traffic Act,” Roberts said.
MOVING IN QUICKLY
He said often motorists did not understand they were in danger, as criminals came out of bushes or just seemed to be walking along the road. Motorists seldom appeared to check that they had enough fuel to get to their destination.
Smith said the ability of criminals to move in quickly was evident after a bait operation carried out by Metro Police this month. Soon after stopping along the side of the road, three people approached the unmarked vehicle, he said. One smashed the driver’s-side window with a brick and tried to rob the officers. But other officers moved in and arrested two of them.
Smith said between September 21 and October 15, there were 11 crime-related incidents recorded on the N2 and R300.
“This included two robberies, four attempted robberies, two incidents of stone throwing, a road rage incident, and the recovery of two bodies.”
Cape Times