Johannesburg metro police have arrested five motorists caught cruising in the emergency lanes on the M1 south and N1 north highways on Wednesday.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said four taxi drivers and a motorist driving a BMW were arrested.
The taxi drivers had been trying to beat the morning rush on the M1 south highway between the 11th Avenue and Riviera off-ramps in Killarney, he said.
The BMW driver was caught on the N1 north highway at the Allandale off-ramp in the afternoon.
They were released on bail of R1 000 each and warned to appear in court on Friday.
Three of the taxi drivers and the driver of the BMW would appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court. The fourth taxi driver would appear in the Midrand Magistrate’s Court.
They would face charges of reckless driving, Minnaar said.
He said 20 unroadworthy taxis had also taken off the road and issued with notices prohibiting them from operating.
”The notices will stand until such time when they are repaired and taken for roadworthy tests,” he said. – Sapa