This is according to the MEC of the department, Lebogang Motlhaping, who revealed yesterday during a media briefing in Kimberley that a total of 861 speed summons were issued during this period. Motlhaping said that the highest speed recorded was 173 km per hour in a 120 km per hour zone near Richmond on the N1. The driver was arrested and this matter is under investigation by local authorities.

Motlhaping said that 415 summons were issued for failure to produce driving licenses and no licenses, while 206 summons were issued for unlicensed vehicles. Finally, 90 summonses were issued for moving violations such as using a cell phone while driving and overtaking over barrier lines. He further said that fatigue, pedestrian negligence and overloading are some of the concerns that the Department noted as significant contributors in accidents which occurred in the province over the festive period.

The province recorded 42 crashes, which resulted in 54 fatalities, which is an 80% increase from the 2017 figures as 24 fatalities were recorded in that period. This briefing follows a week after Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande, released the national road festive safety results, which revealed that this year, 1 612 fatalities were recorded countrywide during the stated period, which is a 7% increase from last year’s figure which recorded 1 527 fatalities on South African roads during the 2017/18 road festive season.

OFM News