Nineteen motorists arrested for alleged drink driving this weekend

A preliminary report from Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services indicates that 5 people died on the province’s roads over the weekend.

A total of 19 motorists were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

• Five motorists were arrested in the George service area,
• four in the Swellendam service area,
• three in the Mossel Bay service area,
• three in the Caledon service area,
• one in the Beaufort West service area,
• one in the Knysna service area,
• one in the Vredenburg service area, and
• one in the Vredendal service area.

In addition, traffic officers arrested four people:

• Three for false documentation in the N2 Swellendam service area, and
• One for excessive speed in the N1 Beaufort West service area.

Breath testing was performed on 1 529 drivers at 23 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Swellendam service area. At 1,53 mg of alcohol/ 1 000 ml of breath, this is over six times the legal limit of 0,24 mg/ 1 000 ml.

A total of 658 speeding offences were recorded and 228 fines in the total amount of R366 850 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver to vehicle fitness violations.

The highest speed recorded was 175 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in the N1 Beaufort West service area.

Drivers under the influence put their own lives and those of their passengers in danger, and they endanger the lives of other road users. If you’re drinking, don’t drive or walk. Help us create booze-free roads. If you have friends or family who still drive under the influence, speak to them before they get into trouble with the law.

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