Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Drunken driving under spotlight

By Anele Siwa
11 December 2007


Three hundred and sixteen motorists have been arrested for drunk-driving since the beginning of December 2007.

“This follows an intensified law enforcement campaign launched by Minister Radebe for the safer festive season,” says National Department of Transport spokesperson Mthunzikazi Mbungwana.

According to Mbungwana the law enforcement officers are on high alert to deal with every offence with the seriousness it deserves in order to ensure safety of law abiding road users and reduce the road bloodshed on South Africa’s roads.

“Since 1 December 2007, figures from the SAPS indicate that the road carnage has claimed 275 lives from 230 crashes involving 65 drivers, 84 passengers and 126 pedestrians,” Mbungwana.

The provincial breakdown is as follows; GP 62, EC 38, MP 36, KZN 35, WC 29, NW 27, FS 25, Lim 20, NC 3.

“Without preventative measures taken by traffic authorities the situation could have been far much worse,” she added.

According to Mbungwana this festive season has seen a big increase in the driver population from 7 950 000 last year to 8 000 000 this year.

Meanwhile Chris Snyman Head of the Provincial Road Safety says at the moment about 35 crashes have accured in the Western Cape roads.

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