GEORGE NEWS - A 14% drop in road fatalities across the Western Cape over the Easter weekend has been welcomed by authorities, with intensified enforcement in the entire province - including the Garden Route - credited for the improvement.

Warrant Officer Christopher Spies said joint Safer Easter operations between the police, provincial and local traffic focused on high-visibility patrols along entrance and exit routes as well as strategic points.

“Several vehicle checkpoints were conducted, yielding excellent results, with 25 suspects arrested for drunken driving in the Garden Route District,” he said. "Two suspects were arrested in George of which one in Thembalethu and the other one in the George policing precincts."

Provincially, the Western Cape Government recorded 19 fatalities, down from 22 in the same period last year. Over the long weekend, traffic officers stopped and checked 44 555 vehicles and made 149 arrests - 108 of them for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku attributed the decline to stricter enforcement and increased visibility on the roads, although he warned that reckless behaviour remains a concern.

Pedestrians and passengers were the most vulnerable, accounting for the majority of deaths, with many incidents linked to alcohol use and unsafe road conditions.

Authorities say while the decline is encouraging, continued vigilance and responsible road use are essential to sustain the downward trend.

Several vehicle checkpoints were conducted, yielding excellent results.

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