Traffic Services Arrest Twenty Three Motorists for Drunk Driving on Friday

In a road block held on Modderdam Road in Bishop Lavis on Friday 23 July, City of Cape Town Traffic Officers arrested twenty three (23) drivers for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Two motorists also face charges of reckless or negligent driving after they were caught driving at one hundred and twenty five kilometres per hour (125 km/h) and one hundred and thirty seven kilometres per hour (137 km/h) in a sixty kilometre per hour 60km/h zone on Vanguard Drive between Gunners Circle and Viking Way.

A total of four hundred and thirty eight (438) fines for exceeding the speed limit and forty two (42) fines for other traffic offences were issued, totalling R26 200.

"Six drivers were arrested within the first hour and a half of setting up the road block. This is particularly worrying as just this weekend two people died as a result of a drunk driver behind the wheel and a total of twenty seven (27) accidents involving alcohol were recorded," said Media Spokesperson for Cape Town Traffic Services, Chief Inspector Merle Lourens.

"People need to realise that if an accident happens and they are found driving drunk, they can end up in prison on more serious charges, like culpable homicide if someone is killed in the collision. They could end up with permanent criminal record; their driving licence could be suspended; and their insurance may not pay out when there is damage to the vehicle," added Chief Inspector Lourens.

Netreg community members who gathered to watch what the officers were doing, and even some of those arrested, expressed their gratitude to the officers for conducting this type of enforcement in the area.

The MEC for Transport and Public Works, Robin Carlisle, accompanied the Ghost Squad on patrol and also visited this road block.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town