The campaign serves to encourage a sense of collective responsibility towards safety by educating and engaging with Johannesburg residents, said MMC for Public Safety Sello Lemao.
This year the Metro police have again warned there will be no mercy for law breakers and traffic offenders, particularly drunk drivers.
“Metro police and emergency services will be on high alert as the festive season begins,” said Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar speaking at the launch.
Metro Police is expected to deploy more than 2 300 officers for the festive season.
“When it comes to accidents, our efforts definitely serve to reduce accidents and fatalities significantly, and our approach is going to be zero-tolerance to all offenders. Drunken drivers will have no chance,” Minnaar said.
Motorists will be screened for alcohol and drugs and those found to be under the influence of drugs or above the legal limit of alcohol will be arrested, he said.
“This year we will have drug-testing kits in addition to breathalysers… When someone is suspected to be under the influence of drugs, the person will be arrested and brought in for a drug test.
“Irrespective of which drug is used, the kit will indicate whether the person is positive or negative, and the drug type. A blood sample will then be drawn and the person will be taken to the police station.
“There are going to be many roadblocks. We are going to be searching vehicles, looking for stolen goods, stolen cars, unroadworthy vehicles and criminals.”
According to Minnaar, the Metro police high speed unit will be on full alert to arrest motorists caught travelling 40km or more over the speed limit.
Motorists who overtake on a blind rise or curve where the view ahead is restricted, or encroach on the wrong side of the road, will be fined R1 000 per offence, Minnaar added.
Minnaar outlined the scope of operations during the festive season which, in addition to road safety, would focus on crime combating, transport compliance, pedestrian safety, bylaw compliance, fireworks, fire safety, flash floods and drowning.
The Metro police would also conduct special operation at malls because criminals are expected to target jewellery and cellphone shops, Minnaar said.
“There will be a huge effort by the law enforcement agencies in Joburg to reduce crime this festive season, but we need the support of the community… so that they can report when they see wrong doing and officers can be deployed to those areas.”
