Provincial Traffic Services arrested eleven motorists this week, including seven in the Somerset West service area, for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
Since Monday, 1 February 2016, traffic officers have stopped a total of 15 099 vehicles in roadblocks across the province. Alcohol breath-testing was performed on 1 410 motorists. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Somerset West service area. At 1.10 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is over four times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml.
Details of drunken driving arrests:
A total of nine vehicles were impounded for being unlicensed and/ or unroadworthy. The licences of 28 vehicles were suspended until they have been certified as roadworthy and owners have renewed their vehicle licences. The largest numbers of suspended vehicles (13) was recorded in the Somerset West service area.
A total of 1 625 vehicles were screened for speeding and 129 speeding offences were recorded. Speeding fines in the amount of R13 700 were issued.
The highest speeds were recorded on the N1 in the Brackenfell service area (152 km/h in a 120 km/h zone), on the N2 in the George service area (119 km/h in a 100 km/h zone) and on the N2 in the Somerset service area (101 km/h in an 80 km/h zone). These drivers face heavy fines and will appear in court soon.
Five other arrests were made – one in connection with false documentation in Caledon, one in connection with false documentation in Somerset West, two for reckless and negligent driving in Somerset West and one for excessive speed (149 km/h in a 120 km/h zone) in Mossel Bay. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
Traffic Centre | Driver-related offences and fines (safety belt offences, overloading, invalid documentation and illegal use of cellphone) | Vehicle-related offences and fines (vehicle licence, brakes, lights, tyres, number plates) |
Somerset West | 368 totalling R342 650 | 98 totalling R70 400 |
Vredenburg | 43 totalling R43 550 | 19 totalling R13 000 |
Vredendal | 74 totalling R67 550 | 21 totalling R10 300 |
Worcester | 143 totalling R115 850 | 44 totalling R29 500 |
Swellendam | 32 totalling R38 950 | 24 totalling R11 800 |
Mossel Bay | 75 totalling R79 400 | 29 totalling R14 300 |
Oudtshoorn | 5 totalling R6 500 | 4 totalling R2 800 |
Beaufort West | 104 totalling R109 750 | 100 totalling R51 300 |
Caledon | 13 totalling R15 300 | 21 totalling R8 500 |
Knysna | 27 totalling R43 700 | 24 totalling R32 600 |
George | 60 totalling R123 200 | 27 totalling R14 500 |
Brackenfell | 239 totalling R290 600 | 27 totalling R11 500 |
Laingsburg | 58 totalling R74 500 | 40 totalling R18 800 |
Help us to create booze-free roads. The simple fact is that alcohol and roads don’t mix. Drunk drivers put their own lives and those of their passengers in danger, as well as the lives of other road users. By taking the decision not to drink and drive, and sharing your decision with your family and friends, you can influence the behaviour of others in a positive way.
Motorists can make themselves and others safer by buckling up in the front and back at all times, driving carefully and considerately, and always remaining within the speed limit.
Follow Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hash-tag #ShareTheRoad.
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