Festive season road carnage: WC records 34 deaths in a week

The Western Cape Mobility Department on Monday recorded 27 crashes and 34 deaths on the province’s roads over the past week.

The department said 14 of those fatalities were pedestrians and noted that drunk driving continued to be a significant problem.

Of the 103 arrests made by traffic officials in this period, 73 were for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Nearly 200 integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed control operations were conducted across the province, with more than 32,000 vehicles stopped and checked.

The department's Maxine Bezuidenhout said almost 8,000 fines were issued for various traffic violations, ranging from driver fitness to vehicle roadworthiness.

“Our traffic officers remain highly visible across the province, with ongoing roadblocks, speed enforcement and vehicle checks taking place around the clock,” said Bezuidenhout.

She added that enforcement alone was not enough.

“Road safety ultimately comes down to individual choices; choosing not to drink and drive, slowing down, and being more aware of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who remain the most vulnerable on our roads.”

The department also highlighted the vulnerability of two-wheeled road users, with seven cyclists and nine motorcyclists losing their lives on Western Cape roads since the start of the festive season.