Johannesburg – More than 7 400 motorists have been arrested for drunken driving, speeding, and attempted bribery, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has revealed.
The arrests were made from 1 December 2024 to New Year’s Day, (1 January 2025).
In a statement on Saturday, (4 January 2024), the RTMC said 7 448 people were arrested on South African roads over the festive period for various offences that included drunken driving, speeding, and attempted bribery.
“The highest breath alcohol level recorded was 2.47mg/1000ml on the R61 on the 27th of December,” the RTMC said.
Eastern Cape recorded 455 arrests for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in December.
“The highest speed recorded was in Limpopo on the N1, a motorist was caught driving 209km/h in 120 km/h zone on the 17th of December,” the RTMC said.
“As of January 1, a total of 1 157 032 vehicles were stopped and checked by road traffic authorities as part of the festive season enforcement plan aimed at promoting safety on national roads.
“Officers issued 408 783 written charges for various traffic violations and 6034 vehicles were discontinued.”
The RTMC urged motorists to be cautious when driving in rainy conditions.
Drivers were reminded to do the following when driving in rainy conditions:
- Putt lights on
- Reduce speed
- Increase the following distance and
- Avoid the use of cell phones and other distractions
The RTMC also called for vigilance, patience, and respect for the rules of the roads as the festive season holidays come to an end and travellers prepare to return home.
“Roads leading out of coastal areas and neighbouring states are expected to experience high traffic volumes over the weekend and law enforcement officers have been deployed to monitor driver behaviour on the roads and reduce the number of crashes and fatalities,” RTMC.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has alerted motorists, pedestrians, and the public to be aware of heavy, disruptive rain across the central and eastern regions of South Africa from Sunday to at least Wednesday, (5 to 8 January 2025).
“The expected persistent rainfall, with associated risks, emphasises the need for caution and preparedness among all road users and the public,”‘ SAWS said.
