While traffic offences have increased since curfew restrictions were eased, the City’s traffic services have increased enforcement interventions on the Atlantic Seaboard.
And they are receiving praise from residents for their efforts, specifically those of the Ghost Squad, says traffic services spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout.
“It is very difficult to gauge successes based on statistics alone. Every weekend is different. Different weather conditions, different times of the year, different motorists and even different offenders.
“At the end of the day the residents and motoring public want an environment that is safe and enjoyable for all road users and that is why the Ghost Squad strives to ensure a safe motoring environment,” said Ms Bezuidenhout.
“Trying to educate the motoring public on the dangers of reckless driving, drunken driving, altering manufacturers’ specifications of vehicles, noise pollution is a challenge.
“The Atlantic Seaboard is just one location of many that we are facing every week especially over weekends and during the evenings and early hours of the morning. Hours of work, particularly the amount of overtime required to police offences, and availability of staff is a challenge,” she said.
Another challenge is the sustainability of traffic operations but Ms Bezuidenhout says residents can expect them to continue their operations as the department aims for compliance from drivers and fewer complaints from the public.
The total number of offences recorded during January was 1 240, including 13 arrests that included illegal street racing and 11 speeding offences, with 143km/h being the highest speed recorded – on Victoria Road.