Fouzia Van Der Fort
5 November 2009
City traffic officials went in search of Cape Town's most courteous drivers yesterday - and ended up fining 41 motorists for various transgressions instead.
The early morning operation was aimed at rewarding city motorists for polite behaviour.
But just three motorists received pens or key rings as gifts after they were spotted giving way to fellow motorists, using their indicators and wearing their seat belts.
Of the 41 fined, 10 were caught driving without licences, 11 for crossing solid white lines, and the remainder for failing to indicate, driving inside the yellow line and failing to stop at red traffic lights.
Ottery motorist Fazlin Howell looked terrified when she was pulled off the M5 by senior traffic officer Ferdinand Snyders while on her way to work in Table View.
Her fear quickly turned to surprise when she discovered she was being praised by Snyders for allowing another vehicle to pass in front of her.
Howell said it was "great" to be rewarded in this way.
"It could never have been because of my driving and I had just had the car serviced," she joked.
The city launched the campaign to acknowledge and educate motorists about being friendly road users.
The city's traffic spokeswoman, Inspector Merle Lourens, acknowledged that 80 percent of motorists usually obeyed traffic laws, but said the team yesterday was searching for "someone who is exceptional and really becomes the most courteous person".
"A courteous driver is one who unselfishly acknowledges the rights of other road users, including pedestrians, pedal- and motor-cyclists, one who shows self-discipline and accepts responsibility for his or her and our safety and security while driving," she said.
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