As thousands of Joburg residents return to work this week, the Joburg metro police and emergency management services have reported fewer incidents over the 2018 December holidays, with a major drop in drunk and driving cases and other road fatalities.
JMPD spokesperson Tessa Adams, who welcomed motorists back to the City, says it’s pleased with the recent safe festive season in Joburg, thanks to the hard work of officers on duty and the co-operation of the public.
The JMPD was able to significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents on Joburg roads over the festive season, Adams adds.
“We hope Joburgers a safer and happy new year. We had a safe, hassle free and crime-free festive season, with about three deaths reported by the New Year,” Adams says.
She urges holidaymakers still returning to the City over the next few weeks to be cautious on the wet roads.
The JMPD Chief David Tembe tweeted that preventing crime and safeguarding the City’s communities was the bedrock of the department’s festive season safety campaign, which he’s pleased has yielded positive outputs.
“We will continue to work hard to keep our streets safe. Bylaw operations are conducted on a weekly basis to address non-compliance,” Tembe tweeted.
He says the force’s improved traffic systems and high visibility strategy paid off. “Our mandate is to ensure that the City of Joburg is a safe place to be for residents and visitors,” he says.
The latest JMPD statistics show a marked decrease in the number of cases of drunken driving and speeding and general road families, including murder and muggings. The drop is attributed to strict law enforcement and new Evidential Breath Alcotest (EBAT) systems that tests for drunk driving.
The EBAT gives an immediate print out of the driver's alcohol level, eliminating the need for a blood sample to be taken as was previously the case. This is expected to lead to quicker prosecution and conviction of drunk drivers.
