Update

GEORGE NEWS - George Herald received a video taken by an irate, anonymous motorist showing a government vehicle driving over the speed limit through Kaaimans Pass.

The vehicle was going at 80km/h in a 60km/h zone. The video was recorded on Monday 23 May at about 15:00.

It is obvious that the driver is recording the video with his cellphone while driving and following the government vehicle at the same speed.

The newspaper forwarded the video to the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works. Head of communications Jandré Bakker responded that the department would not disclose names of officials. 

However, he said there is no excuse for speeding. "Only if it is an approved staff member who responds to an emergency will the apology be accepted."

He said all government motor transport vehicles have a tracker system installed that generates data to record, among other things, violations - regardless of whether there was a camera, or it was caught in a speed trap. Fleet officers receive the report from this data. Action taken against the driver includes a written warning that the driver and their line manager must acknowledge. 

"If the driver again makes themselves guilty of such behaviour, it may lead to more severe sanctions. For example, exceeding the speed limit is considered by us to be an abuse of the asset, an offence."

Bakker said personnel authorised to use government vehicles have the necessary training and their travel data serves as proof of the emergency they rushed to, if there had been an emergency.

"There is no excuse for breaking the road rules by non-emergency or security personnel."

Complainant also broke road rules

He warned though that the driver who took the video, also broke the road rules by exceeding the speed limit and handling a mobile device while driving.

He advised that a person witnessing a transgression should rather ask someone else in the vehicle to handle the camera, or simply call the department through their hands-free system, or as soon as they arrive at their destination.

All information needed if someone wants to report a traffic violation is the vehicle registration number, location and time of the incident, and a basic description of the incident.

Previous article: Speeding Government vehicles are tracked

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