Drunk drivers beware

Traffic officers have been instructed to be strict on the roads

FORTY-five motorists were arrested for drunken-driving last week, since the start of this year’s Booze Free Roads campaign.

The past week recorded an increase in the number of arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). A total of 23 DUI arrests were made in the N2 region, 17 in the metro or N7 region, and five in the N1 region.

Department of Transport and Public Works spokesperson Jandré Bakker said a total of 966 speeding offences were recorded. Some 3 668 fines totalling R5 493 250 were issued for various traffic violations ranging from driver issues to vehicle fitness.

Bakker said there was a particularly large number of DUI arrests on the Garden Route. “DUI is a serious risk to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

He said if you drive under the influence, you face an increased risk of being in a crash in which people can be injured or killed.

“The highest breath alcohol reading recorded by provincial officers was 1.26 mg/1 000ml in the Mossel Bay service area, five times the legal limit of 0.24mg/1 000ml.” He said fatigue was a major contributor to crashes and fatalities. “Fatigue management operations on the N1 will be conducted from a point that is also a safe resting point for any motorist who needs to take a break.”

Booze Free Roads is a campaign by the Department of Transport and Public Works focused on curbing alcohol consumption by motorists. Provincial traffic officers are working around the clock to create booze-free roads in the Western Cape. Traffic Services chief Kenny Africa said there would be “a no-nonsense” approach to drunken-driving.

“Our officers were instructed to be strict on the road.” Transport and Public Works MEC Donald Grant said the campaign would target adults, who were the ones most likely to drink and drive or drink and walk. “Over 40% of drivers killed on Western Cape roads,tested for alcohol, were blood alcohol content-positive.” Grant said. “We also know that approximately 372 pedestrians were killed while under the influence of alcohol on Western Cape roads last year.”

Africa said the problem of alcohol consumption and road use was one that demanded urgent attention. The highest speed recorded last week was 188km/h, in a 120km/h zone on the N2 in Mossel Bay.