In the past week, the City’s Traffic Service has recorded at least five pedestrian fatalities around the city – a number of which have occurred on major arterial routes.
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Three of the pedestrian fatalities occurred on major arterial routes:
· Monday, 10 June: M5 south, after Ottery Road. The victim was an adult female.
· Tuesday, 11 June: Avonwood Road in Elsies River. A four-year-old girl was declared deceased, while a 50-year-old woman was seriously injured.
· Tuesday, 11 June: A 55-year-old male died in Kleinvlei.
· Saturday, 15 June: M5 north link, FW De Klerk incoming. A 25-year-old woman was declared deceased.
· Monday, 17 June: A 35-year-old man was hit on the N2 outbound, before the Engen garage
‘Road safety remains one of our biggest challenges, and the number of pedestrian fatalities is quite simply alarming. The City conducts enforcement operations along our highways as far as our resources allow. Fines are issued to pedestrians who enter roadways, and we act against speeding and motorists driving recklessly. I have also called for increased enforcement of intersections, to reduce the risks to pedestrians in communities. Far too many motorists treat traffic signs as suggestions, often with devastating consequences.
‘Equally devastating is the number of pedestrian fatalities on our highways. Not only is there a very low chance of survival for the pedestrian, but there is also secondary trauma and risk of injury to the other road users involved. I want to appeal to pedestrians to walk only where it is safe, and legal to do so. To motorists, please be incredibly alert to your surroundings at all times, and obey not only the speed limit, but all rules of the road. The City will also renew its engagements with the Western Cape Government and Sanral to install durable fencing or walls along the major highways,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
In general enforcement in the past week, the City’s enforcement agencies made 285 arrests and issued 63 673 fines for various transgressions.
Cape Town Traffic Services arrested 54 motorists in the past week – 47 for drunk driving, two for reckless and negligent driving and five others on various charges, including a stolen vehicle, false documentation and assault of an officer.
Officers also recorded 57 274 offences, including issuing 67 fines to pedestrians for jaywalking; impounded 172 public transport vehicles and executed 1 653 warrants of arrest.
Law Enforcement officers made 169 arrests and issued 3 157 notices, while their Metro Police counterparts made 62 arrests and issued 3 242 fines.
PUBLIC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTRE (PECC)
The Public Emergency Communication Centre logged 1 809 incidents over the long weekend.
These included 854 calls for medical assistance, 105 assault cases, 59 incidents of domestic violence and 64 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
Supplied by: City of Cape Town and Photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash
