Police to crack down on road offenders |27 February 2015

The police are again advising motorists and pedestrians to be well aware of road laws and regulations so as to avoid causing accidents and other related road offences or they will be fined.

The police said they will be stepping up their effort to prosecute motorists who are not paying their R200 fixed penalties within the mandated three-day period.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, police spokesperson Jean Toussaint noted that many pedestrians and motorists are still not using and observing road regulations properly and this has caused 247 accidents in the past two months, although this figure is lower compared to 305 accidents for the same period of last year.

Three fatalities have already been recorded for the past two months while 11 fatalities were recorded for the whole of 2014.

According to the police, these accidents are caused by drunk driving, speeding and mostly as a result of drivers using mobile phones while behind the wheel.
The police said they will crack down on drivers using mobile phones while driving.

It is an offence for a person to use a mobile phone while driving unless that person pulls over to take the call or use ear piece devices.
Mr Toussaint said since last week up to yesterday forty drivers have been issued with fixed penalties for mobile phones violation, most of whom were texting while tailing in the traffic. Only ten have paid so far.

He said that those who have not paid after a three-day grace period, will be brought to justice.  

Giving some statistics for the past eight days, Mr Toussaint said the traffic department alone has contravened 162 motorists for traffic offences, of which 130 were related to mobile phones and seat belt offences. The other 32 contraventions were related to tinted glass, failing to affix insurance, obstructing traffic, wrong parking, failing to secure pick-up loads, driving licence offences etc.

He said the police will be putting more officers on the roads in an attempt to curb those offences.  

He also advised pedestrian to be  more careful while on the road especially those talking on the phone or using headsets while crossing the road which can cause accidents.

Three days ago a 10-year-old girl was hit at Glacis by a vehicle and she is still in the intensive care unit. Mr Toussaint said we must all pray that she can regain her health and go back to school.