More than 13,000 motorists arrested
More than 13, 000 motorists were arrested across the country last month.
From 1 December 2011 to 8 January 2012, 13,439 drivers were arrested, including 2,492 for drunk driving, 162 for reckless and/or negligent driving, 314 for excessive speed, 9,222 for outstanding warrants of arrest, 635 for not being in possession of valid public transport permits, 50 for false documentation, 117 for not being in possession of a valid driving licence and 398 for various other offences.
During the same period, more than 1,5 million (1,506,958) vehicles and drivers were checked, 526,735 fines issued for various traffic offences and 6,084 un-roadworthy vehicles discontinued from use.
During September, October and November 2011, more than 3,500 public transport and freight drivers were arrested, as part of pre-December holiday traffic law enforcement operations and following Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele's instruction that every bus and taxi must be stopped and checked.
From October 2010 to October 2011, more than 15 million (15,051,565) vehicles and drivers were checked, more than six million (6,287,308) fines issued for various traffic offences, 21,575 drunk drivers arrested and 60,313 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use. Sentences imposed by the courts include hefty fines, imprisonment without the option of a fine as well as suspension/cancellation of driving licences. These motorists now also have criminal records.
Meanwhile, road deaths dropped by 75% during the past (2011/12) festive season on the N3 highway between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. According to N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), from 12 December 2011 to 10 January 2012, eight people died on the 415km N3 toll route between Heidelberg in Gauteng and Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal. During the same period in 2010/11, 32 people died on this stretch of road. National preliminary figures for the past (2011/12) festive season road death toll also reflect a decrease in road fatalities compared to the previous (2010/11) festive season report.
Minister Ndebele has commended emergency services for working all out during the December festive season to ensure safer roads. "Whatever success was achieved during the December holiday period was due to the dedication of our traffic officers, police officers and other members of our emergency services. They were on duty, ensuring our safety on the roads. They sacrificed valuable time with their families and loved ones, and for this they must be commended.
"The reduction in road deaths is not just desirable; it is an urgent non-negotiable, and has become our daily mission, which has called upon world leaders to work together and to share solutions to this challenge. Through the National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP), during 2012 we will continue stopping and checking no less than a million vehicles and drivers every month, as well as aggressively pursue dangerous drivers who drink and drive, drive recklessly or drive inconsiderately. It is time that all right-thinking and like-minded South Africans say: Enough is Enough - we need to take back our roads! We are on the side of all law abiding road users, and would like to appeal to the rest to comply or feel the heat.
"We would like to request that, collectively, we make 2012 the beginning of the end of bad driving. More than 40 people die on South African roads every day, and we need a paradigm shift in our approach to road safety. Road safety is everybody's responsibility. As government, we want to make it very clear that we remain steadfast in our resolve to bring down the fatality rate on our roads. We are determined to ensure that all road-users, especially, the most vulnerable, are safe when travelling on our roads. Be part of the Decade of Activism for Road Safety 2011 to 2020 -Be Part of It!" Minister Ndebele said.
Enquiries: Logan Maistry - 083 6444 050
ISSUED BY: MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
www.transport.gov.za