Twenty-seven arrested for drinking and driving this weekend

A preliminary report from the Western Cape Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Services indicates that two road users died on the province’s roads on Friday – one driver in Swellendam and the other in Piketberg.

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services arrested 27 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 22 and 23 April 2016.

Nine other arrests were made:

• three in connection with vehicle impoundments in George,
• one in connection with impoundment in Beaufort West,
• one in connection with false documentation in Oudtshoorn,
• one in connection with false documentation in Somerset West,
• one pedestrian in possession of tik, and
• two for travelling at excessive speed in Mossel Bay (164 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the first case, 146 km/h in a 100 km/h zone in the other).

Breath testing was performed on 1 320 drivers at 22 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Somerset West service area. At 1.23 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is five times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

A total of 3 805 vehicles were screened for speeding and 745 speeding offences were recorded. The highest speeds recorded were 201 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N1 in the Brackenfell service area, 146 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N2 in the Mossel Bay service area, and 109 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the N2 in the Knysna service area.

A total of 186 fines in the amount of R192 800 were issued for various traffic law infringements, including driver and vehicle fitness violations. 

The Department of Transport and Public Works is encouraging road users to #BeTheChange that they want to see on Western Cape roads. They can do this by: 

• not drinking and driving,
• buckling up in the front and back at all times,
• not using a cell phone while driving,
• driving carefully and considerately, and
• always remaining within the speed limit.

Follow Safely Home on Twitter @WCGovSafelyHome under the hashtag #BeTheChange.