Over a 15 month period, the City’s Traffic Service has recorded a record number of offences – a worrying indication that many road users simply refuse to stay in their lane.
‘Five years ago, our Traffic Service recorded on average two and a half million offences a year. This includes an array of driving offences like dangerous overtaking, not wearing seatbelts and overloading, to the state of vehicles, unlicensed drivers and of course drunk driving and vehicle impoundments. In the last financial year, that number shot up to more than 3,7 million offences, and if the statistics for the first quarter of the current financial year are anything to go by, this appears to be the new normal.
‘The pandemic impacted on some categories, like arrests made and warrants executed, but we are noticing an upward trajectory once more. And, while there are likely more cars on our roads than there were five years ago, particularly because of the collapse of the rail system, it’s still no excuse or justification,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
| CATEGORY | 2017/18 | 22018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | Q1 2022/23 |
| Offences | 2 784 264 | 2 781 663 | 2 655 845 | 2 650 876 | 3 725 338 | 891 074 |
| Speeding | 1 433 907 | 1 477 099 | 1 424 297 | 2 170 910 | 2 054 477 | 505 067 |
| Warrants executed | 93 269 | 167 928 | 149 958 | 77 247 | 105 740 | 29 022 |
| Cellphones impounded | 9 749 | 9 152 | 7 081 | 3 043 | 6 283 | 1 173 |
| Taxi impoundments | 3 452 | 4 231 | 4 598 | 6 688 | 5 884 | 1 590 |
| Total arrests | 5 428 | 5 865 | 4 255 | 1 514 | 2 826 | 912 |
| Warrant arrests | 43 596 | 59 822 | 37 445 | 20 176 | 29 592 | 6 524 |
| DUI arrests | 3 444 | 3 688 | 2 842 | 1073 | 1 553 | 641 |
| Rec & neg. arrests | 986 | 808 | 564 | 830 | 685 | 174 |
TAXI ENFORCEMENT
During the 15-month period under review, a total of 7 474 public transport vehicles were impounded where drivers could not produce a valid operating permit, or if they were found to be operating contrary to the conditions of their operating permit.
‘The City is overrun by complaints about the behaviour of taxi drivers from the general public, but also from legitimate operators who are having to contend with illegal or pirate operators, muscling in on their routes, resulting in unnecessary and sometimes violent conflict. We’ve also seen a disturbing pattern of unrest in reaction to enforcement operations. It is an unenviable situation, but we are duty-bound to act on complaints and follow the letter of the law,’ said Alderman Smith.
APPLICATION OF AMENDED TRAFFIC BY-LAW
The amended by-law was gazetted on 29 July 2022.
Following the gazetting, the City’s enforcement services are currently awaiting finalisation of admission of guilt penalty amounts by the courts, after which staff will participate in training and information sessions on the practical application of the amended by-law.
‘This amended by-law will go a long way in helping us to address some of the selfish and risky behaviour on our roads. The sheer number of offences that are being recorded on a daily basis are proof enough that we need to do more to tackle this scourge. So, if road users refuse to change their ways, we’ll simply have to act by impounding their vehicles in instances where the amended by-law now makes provision for such impoundments,’ added Alderman Smith.
Source: City Of Cape Town