A record 53 arrested for drunken driving over the long weekend

Loyiso Langeni
07 April 2015

The Western Cape Traffic Authorities conducted 24 roadblocks across the province this past long weekend.

2 380 motorists were stopped and 1 858 were screened of which a record, 53 drivers were arrested for drunken driving.

Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa said the highest reading that was recorded was of 1.79 mg/1000 ml and that was seven times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/1000 ml. We also tested a speed of 539 vehicles which we prosecuted 235 drivers for exceeding the different speed limits.

The total amount of fines that we issued was R325 650. The highest speed recorded in the Western Cape since Thursday was 161 km/h in a 120 km/h on the N1 in Beaufort West.

Meanwhile also during the roadblocks one person was arrested in George for hindering a police officer from conducting his duties.

In Knynsa a motorist was arrested for reckless and negligent driving, and in Swellendam one person was arrested for being in possession of false documentation.

28 fatalities were recorded on the province’s roads over the long weekend.

Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa said out of the 28, 15 were pedestrians, two motorcyclists, there were 7 passengers and there were 4 drivers that were killed in a motor vehicle accident throughout this long weekend.

"Yesterday we had a hectic day in Sir Lowry’s pass, a high volume of traffic, there was more than 25 000 vehicles per hour coming into Cape Town" Africa added.