Motorists can have free vehicle safety checks done at any City-owned vehicle testing station until today, Thursday March 29, as part of the City’s Easter safety campaign.
Public transport operators are also encouraged to be part of Operation Exodus, which focuses on driver and vehicle fitness for long-distance operators.
These special focus operations are conducted over and above the day-to-day enforcement operations run by the City’s Metro Police, Law Enforcement and Traffic Service departments.
“Road safety will always be one of our priorities over the holiday periods. Easter coincides with the school holidays this year, so we expect many people to take a break from work and head to other parts of the country. If you’re a private motorist, make sure your vehicle is in good working order. The same goes for public transport operators who have thousands of lives in their hands,” said the City’s mayoral committee member for safety and security; and social services, JP Smith.
Last week, 132 people were arrested for drunken or reckless and negligent driving and outstanding warrants, he said.
“These statistics are par for the course, not to mention the increase in recent months in the number of public transport drivers who are found to be drunk behind the wheel.”