The festive season is officially underway and that means it is time to kick back and enjoy the time off work.
However, it seems there are those who are enjoying the time off a tad too much and have landed themselves in hot water. This follows the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s festive season operation leading to the arrest of 81 drunk drivers since December 1.
The department’s Integrated Festive Season Plan includes operations across the province by various law enforcement agencies.
The department claims 81 motorists have been arrested for drunk driving and 967 drivers have been arrested for speeding since the start of the campaign. To date, the highest speed clocked was 193km. This took place on the N2 in eMkhomazi, by a motorist driving a VW Polo.
Transport MEC Bheki Ntuli says that so far there is a decrease in road crashes, dropping from 83 to 68 since December 1. This shows an 18.07% drop when compared with the same period in 2018. There is also a decrease in fatalities, decreasing from 115 fatalities in 2018 to 79.
MEC Ntuli warns motorists that lawbreakers will face the full might of the law, as law enforcement authorities deployed on all major roads.
Furthermore, MEC Ntuli says that drunk drivers will not be the sole focus as Road Traffic Inspectorate officers will also be checking the roadworthiness of vehicles, overloading, as well as motorists who use cellphones while driving.
He adds that a motorist, a taxi driver, with the highest alcohol content so far was arrested in eMdloti on Saturday, December 14. The driver has an alcohol reading of 1.33mg/*, which is 13 times over the legal alcohol limit.
The department claims the driver of a light motor vehicle whose alcohol reading was 1.13mg/* was also arrested in Dundee on December 13. He was five times over the legal limit.
Motorists are encouraged to practice caution and safe driving this holiday season, ensuring the roads are safe for one and all.
