More than 200 drivers have been arrested over the past week, as part of the December holiday law enforcement operations.
From 28 November 2011 to 4 December 2011, 220 motorists were arrested across the country including 150 for drunk driving, 13 for excessive speed, 13 for reckless and/or negligent driving, three for overloading, 27 for public transport permits, eight for not being in possession of a valid driving licence, four for false documents and 13 for other offences.
During the same period, 128 762 vehicles and drivers were checked, 21 383 fines issued for various traffic offences and 802 un-roadworthy vehicles discontinued from use.
Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has again called on road users to obey road rules. “We call upon all road users to be part of obeying road rules. Before embarking on a trip, test yourself, test your vehicle and act responsibly on the roads. Our law enforcement officers are out in full force to ensure safe roads. Road safety council members, taxi industry leadership, private sector companies including Pick n Pay, Imperial Holdings, Brandhouse, Netcare911, the media and other individuals and organisations will also be at strategic locations to raise awareness and conscientise roads users on road safety. We urge more citizens to join hands with the Department of Transport as a Friend of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Road safety is everybody’s responsibility. Report road traffic offences to 0861 400 800,” said the Minister.
Last month (November), 365 671 buses and trucks were checked and 66,003 fines issued for various traffic offences. One thousand seven hundred and fifty two (1 752) mini-bus taxis, 981 trucks and 312 buses were taken off the roads. More than 850 bus and truck drivers were arrested, including 101 for drunk driving, 10 for excessive speed, nine for reckless and/or negligent driving, 425 for overloading, 235 for public transport permits, 77 for not being in possession of a valid driving licence, 10 for false documents and 219 for other offences.
Over the past three months (September, October, November 2011), more than 3 500 public transport and freight drivers have been arrested as part of pre-December holiday traffic law enforcement operations and following Minister Ndebele’s instruction that every bus and taxi must be stopped and checked.
During October, 1 034,375 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked, 308 327 fines issued for various traffic offences, 6 972 vehicles discontinued from use and 8 263 drivers arrested including for drinking and driving (1 795), reckless and/or negligent driving (131), excessive speed (151), warrants of arrest (5 506), public transport permits (210) and other arrests (470).
From October 2010 to October 2011, 15 051 565 vehicles and drivers were checked, 6 287 308 fines issued for various traffic offences, 21 575 drunk drivers arrested and 60 313 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use, as part of the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) and million-a-month vehicle check announced by Minister Ndebele on 10 September 2010.
Contact:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
