Provincial Traffic Services arrested four motorists this week for allegedly driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol.
Since Monday, 15 February 2016, traffic officers have stopped a total of 17 451 vehicles in roadblocks across the province. Alcohol breath-testing was performed on 1 698 motorists. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Somerset West service area. At 0.96 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this four times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml.
Details of DUI arrests:
A total of three vehicles were impounded for being unlicensed and/ or unroadworthy. The licences of 20 vehicles were suspended until they have been certified as roadworthy and owners have renewed their vehicle licences. The largest numbers of suspended vehicles (6) was recorded in the George and Somerset West service areas.
Speeding fines in the amount of R27 200 were issued. The highest speeds were recorded on the N1 in the Beaufort West service area (191 km/h in a 120 km/h zone), on the N2 in the Swellendam service area (138 km/h in a 100 km/h zone) and on the R45 in the Vredenburg service area (116 km/h in an 80 km/h zone). These drivers face heavy fines and will appear in court soon.
Six other arrests were made – one in connection with overloading in Brackenfell, one in connection with overloading in Vredenburg, one in connection with false documentation in Brackenfell, one for reckless and negligent driving in Beaufort West, and two for excessive speed in Beaufort West (191 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the first case and 182 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the second). The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
Breakdown of fines issued for various traffic violations
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 | 184 totalling R207 250 | 39 totalling R21 600 |
Vredenburg | 33 totalling R33 850 | 12 totalling R7 700 |
Vredendal | 75 totalling R84 700 | 49 totalling R26 700 |
Worcester | 195 totalling R187 300 | 55 totalling R37 700 |
Swellendam | 97 totalling R96 150 | 44 totalling R19 700 |
Mossel Bay | 97 totalling R82 700 | 39 totalling R19 700 |
Oudtshoorn | 11 totalling R14 650 | 9 totalling R4 500 |
Beaufort West | 75 totalling R87 700 | 48 totalling R25 800 |
Caledon | 33 totalling R31 700 | 14 totalling R6 400 |
Knysna | 36 totalling R32 000 | 24 totalling R10 500 |
George | 65 totalling R59 950 | 44 totalling R20 100 |
Brackenfell | 231 totalling R239 450 | 53 totalling R28 200 |
Laingsburg | 57 totalling R63 950 | 52 totalling R31 800 |
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