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TRAFFIC : OPERATIONAL PLAN LAUNCHED
Don’t drink and drive
DESIRÉE RORKE @dezzierorke
A
no-nonsense approach by provincial traffic services will put drunk drivers behind bars this festive season, says minister of transport and public works, Donald Grant. Last Tuesday, Grant launched the festive season traffic operational plan at Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell. In no uncertain terms, Grant warned drivers that their errant and life-threatening behaviour on our roads will land them in jail, saying that “booze-free roads and responsible road use is a non-negotiable this festive season.” “We are very serious about this. We cannot continue to see lives lost so senselessly on our roads as a result of dangerous driver behaviour and general lawlessness,” he said at the launch. According to statistics, a total of 248 lives were lost on Western Cape roads over the festive season last year (1 December to 31 January). “While this number showed a decrease in overall fatalities over this period compared to the previous year, the figure remains too high, he said. So far this year (from January to November 2017), an overall total of 1230 lives have already been lost on Western Cape roads. Provincial traffic services will partner with police, City Law Enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority to conduct integrated traffic and road safety operations for the duration of the festive season. The dangers of drinking and driving/ walking lie at the centre of this road safety initiative. “Alcohol and road use simply don’t mix, which is a truth known to us all, and demonstrated by the significant role that alcohol continues to play in the majority of crashes that we see on our roads. Grant said that consuming alcohol, even in relatively small amounts, and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle or walking increases the risk of being involved in a crash for motorists and pedestrians. “We know that over 40% of drivers killed on Western Cape roads, who were tested for alcohol, were blood alcohol content (BAC)
Minister Donald Grant and traffic chief Kenny Africa at the launch of the Integrated Provincial Traffic Operational Plan for the 2017/2018 festive season.
positive. We also know that approximately 372 pedestrians were killed while under the influence of alcohol on Western Cape roads last year. The problem of alcohol consumption and road use is one that demands our urgent attention,” he said. Grant said traffic enforcement operations will be intensified during the festive season with round-the-clock operations focusing on driving under the influence (DUI), random breath testing, excessive speed, public transport, seatbelt compliance, and driver and vehicle fitness. Since the implementation of random breath testing (RBT) in the province over five months ago, more than 20 000 motorists
have been stopped and screened for alcohol, largely in the City of Cape Town, during various operations. Hundreds of arrests have been made of motorists found to be over the limit. The RBT model is based on those used successfully around the world, in countries like Australia. Lessons for devising the RBT operational model were drawn from the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, where a 20% reduction in alcohol-related traffic injuries was achieved within two years of implementing RBT operations. “One of the greatest benefits of RBT has undoubtedly been the increased awareness
that has come from the increased visibility of our traffic officers at various locations, conducting operations,” said Grant. He also warned motorists to be extremely cautious when travelling on the roads, previously identified as hotspots for incidents and crashes, namely the R27 West Coast, the N1, N2, N7, R60, R62, R43/R45 and N12, as well as the R300. He added that enforcement activities will also be focused on these locations. “In the future, we aim to see a drastic reduction in the number of people either injured or killed on our roads,” he concluded. VWhat is your opinion on this article? Let us know at briewe@tygerburger.co.za.