Twenty-one arrested for drinking and driving this weekend

A preliminary report from the Western Cape Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Services indicates that three road users died on the province’s roads over the weekend.

Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services arrested 21 motorists for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on 24 and 25 June 2016.

• Four were arrested in the Worcester service area, 
• four in Somerset West, 
• four in Caledon, 
• two in Swellendam, 
• two in Beaufort West, 
• two in Knysna,
• two in Oudtshoorn, and
• one in Mossel Bay.

Four other arrests

• one in connection with false documentation in Worcester, 
• one in connection with false documentation in George, 
• one in connection with a false licence disk in Oudtshoorn, and
• one arrest for the recovery of a stolen motor vehicle in Mossel Bay.

Breath testing was performed on 1 965 drivers at 25 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Caledon service area. At 1.16 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is four times the legal limit of 0.24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

A total of 4 076 vehicles were screened for speeding and 725 speeding offences were recorded. Fines in the amount of R329 650 were issued for a variety of reasons ranging from driver offences to vehicle fitness violations.

Highest speeds recorded

• 174 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N1 in the Brackenfell service area, 
• 131 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N2 in the Swellendam service area, and
• 104 km/h in a 60 km/h on the N2 in the Knysna service area.

Details of the road fatalities over the weekend

Shorter, darker days and fog during the winter months can increase the risk of road traffic crashes. We live in a winter rainfall region, and rain can make roads slippery, and hamper visibility. Don't miss out on your future because you didn't see another road user, or weren't seen yourself. The best way to survive a crash is to avoid it altogether. 

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