More traffic cops, please

2003-12-09 16:02

Thandee N'wa Mhangwana

Polokwane - The Limpopo transport department desperately needs more traffic cops.

Department spokesperson Phuti Mabelebele said the department currently has 703 traffic officers across its six districts, but needs more than double that to monitor the province's roads effectively.

"We are doing well, but, ideally would like to have an extra 1 000," she said.

She said most of the existing traffic officers worked over-time, especially with the launch of Alive Arrive and Operation Juggernaut.

"It would be nice if there was some relief for them," she said. Limpopo suffers an enormous increase in traffic on the N2 highway each year when thousands of people head for Zimbabwe and the Zion Christian Church services at Moria outside Polokwane.

Police, army and municipal traffic officers are helping to conduct operations Juggernaut, which focuses on heavy vehicles, and Arrive Alive, which focuses on general motorists.

"There will be traffic officers visible on every road and they will be very strict when it comes to law enforcement," Mabelebele said.

She urged motorists not stop at accident scenes, especially if help has already arrived. "This will prevent secondary accidents."

Pedestrians have also been urged to adhere to road signs, use pedestrian crossings and wear visible clothing at night.

- African Eye