On Wednesday 9 March 2016, Overstrand Traffic and Law Enforcement officials joined forces with their Theewaterskloof counterparts, the provincial traffic authorities and the South African Police Services to execute the first of many traffic stops planned for the Easter Holidays.

Primarily aimed at ensuring road safety during the Easter Holidays (a time when our roads are exceptionally busy), these so-called roadblocks will be set up at regular intervals and at random locations to check both drivers’ competence and vehicles’ roadworthiness. As a spin off, these roadblocks often result in uncovering instances where vehicle registration is a little "suspect".

As an essential element of an integrated approach towards road safety and crime prevention in the Overberg area, traffic stops will focus on ensuring the safety of those passengers who make use of public transport (particularly with reference to permits and overloading) whilst the general fitness of all vehicles will be checked. Likewise, the intention is to ensure that pedestrians, too, use the road in a responsible manner and that drivers are alerted to the dangers of fatigue.

It goes without saying that speed limits will be enforced at all times, and that anyone found driving under the influence will be arrested on the spot.

By maintaining a high visibility on all main routes leading into the area, all parties involved in this joint effort undertake to do their utmost to ensure that the Overberg will be able to report a fatality-free Easter Holiday.

During the two-hour roadblock conducted along the N2 on the 9th of March, 245 vehicles passed through the checkpoint. Interestingly enough, amongst all vehicle classes scrutinised – heavy-duty transporters, buses, taxis, SUVs and ordinary cars included – light-delivery vehicles (LDVs) turned out to be the biggest culprits, with no fewer than fifteen heavy fines issued for transgressions in terms of licensing and roadworthiness and one vehicle being removed from the road on the spot.

Noluthando Zweni

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