Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has warned that several motorists risk going into the New Year without a driving licence. The minister’s warning follows several arrests during the past week, 20 to 27 December 2010 for drinking and driving, speeding and reckless and/or negligent driving.
“We want to remind motorists that in addition to a fine and/or imprisonment, the national Road Traffic Act places a duty on courts to suspend or disqualify a driving licence for persons found guilty of drinking and driving, reckless and negligent driving and speeding - in the case of a first offence, for a period of at least six months; a second offence, for at least five years; or a third or subsequent offence, for at least ten years. With effect from 20 November 2010, the Act was amended to include speeding, over the prescribed speed by more than 30km/h within an urban area and more than 40km/h outside an urban area, among the criteria for which motorists could have their licences suspended and/or disqualified.
“As government, as we head towards 2011 we are intensifying our road safety strategy as part of South Africa's ‘Make Roads Safe’ campaign and the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety from 2011 to 2020. We call upon every South African to partner with government and go all out to ensure safer roads.
"We urge road users to ensure vehicle and driver fitness; drive with their head lamps on at all times; go for regular eye tests; wear your seatbelts; do not drink and drive; adhere to the prescribed speed limits; fatigue is a silent killer so for every stretch of 200km drive, pull aside and rest or stretch; avoid moving violations; and pedestrians and cyclists must wear bright clothes at all times when using the roads," said Minister Ndebele.
As part of the "Make Roads Safe" campaign and new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP), during the past week (20 to 27 December 2010), more than 280 000 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked and thousands of fines issued for various traffic offences; more than 560 drunk drivers were arrested and more than 50 drivers arrested for speeding. There has also been an increase in offences relating to tyres and number plates.
In Johannesburg from 20 to 27 December 2010, more than 9 600 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked; 182 drunk drivers were arrested and 81 vehicles were discontinued from use.
From 1 to 27 December 2010 across South Africa, more than 1,3 million vehicles and drivers were checked and more than 2 000 drunk drivers arrested.
During the early hours of this morning (28 December 2010), a SA Roadlink bus, on its way from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, was discontinued from use by Eastern Cape Traffic Officials at Mthatha.
Last night, 27 December 2010 at about 19h10 on the N1 near Du Toits Kloof Lodge in Paarl in the Western Cape, a motorist driving a VW Audi was arrested for travelling at 173km/h in a 100km/h zone. He was detained at the Paarl SAPS and is expected to appear in court today, 28 December 2010.
In KwaZulu-Natal from 1 to 27 December 2010, more than 250 971 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked; 43 707 fines issued for various traffic offences; 904 vehicles discontinued from use; 354 drunk drivers arrested; 53 speed arrests; 3 055 fines for driving licence offences; 2 476 for seatbelts; 1 793 for unlicensed vehicles; 74 for inconsiderate driving and 69 warrants of arrest executed.
In the Eastern Cape from 1 to 27 December 2010, more than 88 906 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked; 26 915 fines issued for various traffic offences; 772 vehicles discontinued from use including 43 buses and 284 mini-buses; 1 044 arrests including 219 for drunk driving, 39 for excessive speed, 9 for reckless and negligent driving, 64 for overloading, 46 for public transport permits, 231 for not being in possession of a valid driving licence and 302 warrants of arrest executed.
From 1 October to 27 December 2010 more than four million (4,179,095) vehicles and drivers have been stopped and checked and more than 1,8 million fines issued for various traffic offences. More than 25 000 un-roadworthy vehicles, including several buses and taxis, were discontinued from use. More than 4 000 drunk drivers were arrested.
During November 2010, 1,493,574 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked, 684 739 fines issued and 10 282 vehicles discontinued from use. The highest number of vehicles and drivers (220 226) were stopped in KwaZulu-Natal.
During October 2010, 1,385,521 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked, 408 650 fines issued and 4 481 vehicles discontinued from use. The highest number of vehicles and drivers (276 579) were stopped in Gauteng. There were 2 256 drunk driving arrests, of which 930 were in the Western Cape.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
Motorist risk losing driving licence in new year
