City of Cape Town officers have been clamping down heavily on illegal street racing. Within the last week they arrested 22 suspects, which accounts for a third of the weeks overall arrest tally of 63 between Cape Town Traffic and Metro Police.
The City’s Traffic Services held various illegal street racing enforcement operations, which appear to be on the increase once more. During such an operation in Sea Point on September 6, officers suspended 35 vehicles for being unroadworthy.
During another illegal street racing operation held in Bellville South and Century City areas on Thursday, September 10, officers arrested five suspects – four for reckless and negligent driving and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.
On the same evening, Officers attached to the Ghost squad were on patrol when three motorcyclists sped past them on the N1 near Durban Road. The officers immediately gave chase and caught up to the superbikes on the M5, between Berkley Road and the N2, where the motorcyclists were arrested.
The trio was detained at Maitland police station where they were charged with reckless and negligent driving.
Officers were able to pursue and catch up to speedsters in the new high performance vehicles the Ghost Squad has acquired. Members of the squad went for advanced driving training so they are able to handle the vehicles safely at high speeds.
On Saturday, September 12, officers conducted an operation in the Athlone and Mitchells Plain areas, where they arrested 19 suspects. Six of those were collared for reckless and negligent driving and 11 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
“Reckless and negligent driving is a serious offence as it not only puts the life of the driver and passengers at risk, but also other road users. The number of drunk driving arrests during the same operations is an indicator that these offences are usually linked. It is absolutely mind-boggling that, despite the many deaths that have come about because of drunk driving and reckless and negligent driving, people still get behind the wheel and engage in this type of behaviour,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
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