Limpopo - Traffic officers in Limpopo will be out on the province's roads in full force this Easter weekend ensuring that motorists have valid drivers' licences and that their vehicles are roadworthy.
Speaking at the launch of the province's Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign on Tuesday, MEC for Roads and Transport, Namane Masemola said road safety would be a top priority this Easter.
"We won't tire or relent in our campaign to make our roads safer," said Mr Masemola.
He said traffic officers would also clamp down on motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol, drive negligently, overtake where they should not and exceed the speed limit.
"We are sending a clear message that if motorists drive recklessly and irresponsibly our traffic officers will have no choice but to lock them up in jail," said Mr Masemola.
He added that they would also be focussing on pedestrians who behaved recklessly while walking along or crossing roads.
Major roads like those to Moria city and from Beit bridge are expected to experience the highest traffic volumes as thousands of the ZCC members flock towards the holy city.
Last year, the Kranskop tollgate reported peak traffic volumes of 1 700 vehicles per hour at midnight on the eve of Good Friday.
"With the workforce we had then we were able to ensure that road users were safe and traffic flowed smoothly," he said.
Some of the high accident routes in Limpopo will be given special attention including the R40 between Hazyview and Hoedspruit, the R527 from Origstad to Hoedspruit (which has a lot of cattle on the road) and the N1 from Polokwane to Makhado.
The R37 from Polokwane to Burgersfort which has heavy traffic, stray animals and pedestrians, as well as the N1 from Makhado to Musina, the R101 Bela Bela/Polokwane road will be closely monitored.
The R524 from Makhado to Punda Maria, the R521 from Polokwane to Alldays, the R36 from Tzaneen to Hoedspruit, the R567 from Seshego via Gilead to Steilloop and the N11 from Mokopane to Steilloop will also be given special attention this Easter weekend.
