Truck Driver In Court Following N1 Bridge Incident

A truck driver who damaged a bridge on the N1 outbound is expected to appear in court in Cape Town today October 15 on charges of reckless and negligent driving.

The driver, whose truck was impounded, was one of 317 suspects arrested by the citys law enforcement officers last week.

The infrastructure, economic and emotional damage caused by one persons actions cannot be tolerated. I trust that the court will take these factors into account when dealing with this case, said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Jean-Pierre Smith.

We understand that the trucking industry is an important cog in our economy, but there is a responsibility to ensure that drivers and vehicles are fit for purpose.

Smith said work was still under way to determine the extent of the damage to the bridge, which has caused additional ad hoc lane closures on the N1.

I will be liaising with the relevant city departments to ensure that a claim for damages is instituted against the owner of the truck. I will also ask that the citys traffic service works to ensure greater compliance in the trucking sector.

For the period August 1-31, 2024, the citys traffic service has issued 2 502 fines amounting to R1 349 100 during heavy-duty-vehicle enforcement just on Marine Drive. Illegal parking, vehicle defects and unlicensed vehicles were the most common transgressions.

In general enforcement efforts in the past week, the citys enforcement agencies arrested 317 suspects and recorded 67 519 traffic and by-law offences.

Traffic officers arrested 45 motorists 38 for driving under the influence of alcohol, four for reckless driving and three for other transgressions.

They recorded 61 180 offences, executed 1 855 warrants of arrest and impounded 249 public transport vehicles. Officers also confiscated various quantities of drugs, including 147 kilograms of dagga from a herb stall in Woodstock.