From the news desk

City goes on pre-festive season offensive

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In preparation for the festive season, the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate conducted an integrated public awareness operation on the M5 yesterday morning. Within five minutes of the operation, two motorists had already been pulled over and arrested for outstanding fines.

Metro Police, Disaster Risk Management and the City’s traffic services all worked together during the operation on a busy M5 Southbound. According to the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, through the provincial department’s overtime budget and volunteers, the City’s Safety and Security Directorate will be putting more officials on the roads this festive season to clamp down on drunk driving as well as ensuring compliance with the law at beaches and public areas this festive season. In addition, the operation will also be raising awareness around road safety and personal safety in the run-up to what is expected to be a busy few weeks in the city.

The M5, near the Kromboom turn off was backed up as cars passed through about 50 officials, and thoroughly checked for any possible drivers disregarding the safety rules of the road.

Any suspicious cars and drivers along with random checks were conducted during the operation. Smith said these operations will help intensify the city’s attempts to decrease the level of drunk drivers who are particularly on the increase during this time of the year.

“While we have not seen a decrease in the number of drunk drivers on the province’s roads, we have been able to bring down the mortality rate, making this province’s mortality rate the lowest in the country,” said Smith.

“People can avoid carnage by driving more carefully. Watch the alcohol and speed. This should remain a celebration period and not a tragedy.”

The law enforcement reservist members and other volunteers were put on duty for the first time during the festive season operation offensive. Smith said while volunteers are active and assisting throughout the year, this is the first time many of them have joined this major project.

Drunk driving remains a headache for road and traffic authorities. Smith said they hope the new mobile unit will assist in this regard and result in the speedy prosecution of drunk drivers on the province’s roads. Motorists can expect many road blocks in the coming weeks as part of this operation, and throughout the busy days this festive season, police and traffic officials will be on high alert. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)


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