More than 78,000 driving licences have been cancelled and suspended across the country over the past five years.
Between 2006 and 27 December 2011, 75,722 licences and Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) were cancelled and 3,049 suspended.
This year (2011), more than 11,500 driving licences have been cancelled or suspended. From January to 27 December 2011, 10,945 driving licences and PrDPs were cancelled and 607 suspended. Gauteng accounted for the majority of cancellations (3,047), followed by the Western Cape (2,815), KwaZulu-Natal (1,497), Limpopo (958), Eastern Cape (721), North West (664), Free State (585), Mpumalanga (521) and the Northern Cape (137).The majority of suspensions were in the Western Cape (166), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (159), Eastern Cape (140), Gauteng (65), Northern Cape (41), Limpopo (17), Free State (10) and North West (9).
Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has warned that several motorists risk going into the New Year without a driving licence. Since the start of the festive season, more than 1,434 motorists were arrested across the country including 501 for drunk driving, 93 for excessive speed, 37 for reckless and/or negligent driving, 104 for overloading, 420 for not being in possession of valid public transport permits, 16 for not being in possession of a valid driving licence, 22 for false documents and 241 for other offences. During the same period, 544,379 vehicles and drivers were checked, 117,061 fines issued for various traffic offences and 3,956 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use.
“Together with the Ministries of Police and Justice, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority, we are going all out to ensure that dangerous drivers are removed from the roads. Drivers arrested for any offence must have their driving licences suspended or cancelled. The National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) is clear regarding this matter, and grants powers to a competent court or authority (includes Transport MEC and his or her delegated authority) to cancel or suspend driving licences.
We want to remind motorists that, in addition to a fine and/or imprisonment, the NRTA also places a duty on courts to suspend or disqualify a driving licence for persons found guilty of drinking and driving, reckless and/or negligent driving and speeding – in the case of a first offence for at least six months; a second offence for at least five years; or a third or subsequent offence for at least ten years,” the Minister said.
Traffic volumes are expected to increase again from today (29 December) ahead of the New Year. Last Friday (23 December), traffic volumes peaked at more than 2,000 vehicles per hour along major arterial routes. With hundreds of motorists arrested across the country during the Christmas long week-end, law enforcement officers will continue to be visible in full force.
“For the New Year, we urge every South African to enlist as a Friend of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, a global movement to bring down road deaths and injuries world-wide, and pledge as follows:
I shall:
Not drink and drive.
Test myself and my vehicle before a journey.
Not tolerate speeding.
Wear my seatbelt and ensure all passengers are buckled up.
Not tolerate overloading.
Encourage rest stops every two hours.
Eliminate use of cell phones while driving.
Promote pedestrian safety.
Obey all rules of the road.
Report traffic offences to 0861 400 800, “the Minister said.
