No place for drunk driving

THE DA welcomes the proposal by the Road Traffic Management Corporation that driving under the influence be reclassified from a schedule 2 to a schedule 5 offence.

We sincerely hope that this fourth attempt has included all the necessary processes to translate it into legislation.

On numerous occasions, we have called for more stringent measures to be taken against drivers found guilty of driving under the influence.

We have also called for the KZN Department of Transport to engage with the Department of Justice to consider stiffer punishment for reckless drivers, in particular those who cause loss of life or limb.

The reclassification of drunk driving offences means that offenders will not be able to get bail at a police station level and that they will instead have to apply for bail in a court of law. It will also mean stiffer sentences upon conviction.

Recent accident data trends, based on the RTMC national analysis, indicate that a whopping 73.6% of contributing factors for vehicle crashes can be attributed to human factors, particularly drunk driving, speeding, and negligent and reckless driving.

Yet the RTI in KZN is still experiencing challenges in the processing of blood samples from drunken drivers.

As the festive season approaches, proper road safety law enforcement must be prioritised.

It is clear that any meaningful reduction in the level of carnage on our roads will require far greater investment in building the overall capacity of the RTI.

Some may argue that KZN cannot financially afford to fix the problems. The question is – can we afford not to? RAFEEK SHAH, MPL DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport