The Gauteng Traffic Police High-Speed Unit arrested over 18 drivers for excessively speeding on Gauteng roads.
The reckless and negligent drivers were arrested over the weekend during the high-speed operations conducted along Gauteng’s major routes.
The speedsters were found driving their vehicles at a speed above the prescribed maximum speed limit of 120km/h on a freeway.
Suspects between the ages of 21 and 45 were apprehended on Gauteng freeways, such as the N1 Pretoria to Polokwane, N14 Pretoria to Krugersdorp, N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga, R21 Pretoria to Boksburg and M1 between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Their speed ranged from 160km/h to over 200km/h.
The highest speed recorded was the 26-year-old driver of a silver BMW who was caught excessively speeding at 207km/h on the N1 freeway in Midrand on December 11. The driver could not provide any reason for overspeeding nor show any signs of remorse for having endangered the lives of other road users. The driver was detained at Midrand SAPS.
All 18 drivers were formally charged with reckless and negligent driving, as well as exceeding the prescribed speed limit of 120km/h on a freeway.
The drivers are expected to appear soon in various magistrate’s courts in Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively after they were granted a bail of between R1 500 to R5 000.
“Excessive speeding is one of the major contributing factors towards fatal crashes. This kind of behaviour will never be tolerated on our roads. The Gauteng Traffic Police High Speed Unit will be on high alert this festive season by continuously conducting patrols on Gauteng’s major routes to ensure motorists adhere to the general speed limit,” said Sello Maremane, Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson.
The Gauteng Traffic Police urge motorists to continue to exercise the necessary caution by adhering to the rules of the road, driving at a prescribed speed limit to save the lives of passengers and other road users.
