In a boost to road safety efforts, the Western Cape Government has announced 133 newly graduated traffic officers will be deployed on the ground to ensure safety during the festive season.
The graduates, who completed a rigorous 12-month training program, will be deployed across the province to bolster law enforcement capacity and ensure safer journeys for all road users.
The provincial government hosted a graduation ceremony on Monday at the Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell, Cape Town.
Traffic officers equipped with modern technology
The comprehensive training program equipped recruits with the skills and knowledge required to enforce traffic laws, manage incidents, and ensure road safety across the province.
“Learners were further introduced to modern traffic technology, such as handheld devices, as part of the province’s commitment to modernising traffic enforcement,” the provincial government said.
This amid staggering statistics that alcohol and speeding were leading causes of fatalities in the country.
Boost to road safety efforts
More than 2000 people have been killed on the roads in 2024 alone, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy revealed.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde welcomed the deployment of the new traffic officers, staying that they will significantly enhance road safety efforts across the province.
“These provincial traffic officers will go a long way in bolstering our road safety efforts by covering as much of the province’s road network as possible, especially over the festive season.
They are so more than traffic officials, though; they should also see themselves as part of our broader safety and security network, where they too play an important part in keeping communities safe from crime.
As hard as these women and men will be working to keep all road users safe, motorists and pedestrians also need to be aware of their role and responsibilities. Please behave responsibly on the roads. Let us all make sure we all reach our destinations safely,” Premier Winde said.
The Western Cape Government said it remains committed to road safety and ensuring that every journey taken in the province is a safe one.
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