Vehicle accidents tend to spike in South Africa on the first weekend after payday, with this past weekend of 28 February to 2 March seeing a particularly sharp increase in incidents.
The City of Cape Town revealed that it recorded a 300% rise in pedestrian vehicle accidents as people were out and about spending their hard-earned paycheques.
Between the Friday and Sunday, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre dispatched responses to 2,035 incidents, of which 40 were for motor vehicle accidents and 28 pedestrian vehicle accidents.
The previous weekend, overall incidents were at 1,871, including just nine pedestrian vehicle accidents.
Likewise, traffic officers on the roads arrested 72 suspects, including 56 for drunk driving (up from the previous week’s 16), three for reckless and negligent driving, and 13 for other types of transgressions.
They also recorded 55,736 offences, impounded 308 public transport vehicles, and executed 995 warrants of arrest.
Meanwhile, the Metro Police Department made 80 arrests, including 26 for drunk driving and 39 for the illegal possession of drugs.
They also recovered various quantities of drugs, two firearms and an imitation firearm.
Poor choices after payday
The City of Cape Town attributes the alarming rise in vehicle accidents and other transgressions to the fact that it was the first weekend after payday.
“The difference [in incidents] is quite simply that one weekend happened before payday, and the other after,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
“We’ve highlighted this time and again, as well as the common denominator which in many instances is alcohol.”
Smith highlighted that motorists’ poor choices are sapping the City’s resources and taking them away from other areas that are in dire need of support and protection.
“This weekend, joint operations were taking place in many of our suburbs involving City agencies, SAPS, and our neighbourhood watches. We can’t do any of this without our emergency services, and that first line of contact, which is our emergency call takers,” said Smith.
“And, while we all remain committed to public safety, it is actually very sad to see the amount of resources we have to devote to reduce the harm associated with poor choices.”
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