“If you are going to drink, even if it’s just one drink, then you shouldn’t drive at all. Rather arrange for a lift home than have to live with your conscience,” is the message from Witbank SAPS.
Motorists driving under the influence felt the wrath of the police as the long arm of the law did not let them slip pass.
Six motorists were arrested for suspected drinking and driving.
The first accused was stopped by police doing routine patrols on Friday, December 12 in French Street. The driver was arrested and taken to hospital to have his blood drawn.
Later that evening a 20-year old man was arrested shortly after he drove through palisades in Keat Street. This man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Not even two hours later a man misjudged himself when he turned into OR Tambo Street from Gordon Road. He ‘parked’ his BMW on the island in the middle of the road and after several attempts realised the vehicle was stuck.
“I have no idea how I got my car stuck. I only had a few drinks,” the man admitted to bystanders before he was also arrested on the scene.
The number 13 is very unlucky for yet another motorist who was involved in an accident. Police who were on patrol came across the accident and arrested the one driver as he allegedly reeked of liquor.
Later a motorist was stopped by police in Jellicoe Street. The police who stopped the man just after 04:00 in the morning suspected he was drunk and apprehended him. His blood was also drawn at the hospital.
Rounding the weekend’s drinking and driving cases off was a man driving a bakkie collided into a Golf at around 22:15 on December 14.
Because the police suspected the driver of the bakkie was drunk they arrested him.
“We are not tolerating any drinking and driving,” Sgt David Ratau, police spokesperson said in a stern voice.
Adding to the police’s zero tolerance for drinking and driving attitude Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Vusi Shongwe has pleaded with motorists to be more responsible this festive season in order to avoid injuries and deaths resulting from road crashes.
Shongwe’s comments follow the arrest of 124 drivers who were found to be on the wrong side of the law during the first week of December.
The traffic officers had received an instruction from the MEC to ensure that all wrong doers are brought to book during this holiday season as traffic volume is expected to increase.
Among the drivers arrested was a man aged 60 years, who was caught driving a Mini Cooper at 180 km per hour on a 120 km per hour zone on the N3 Toll Road in Grootvlei on December 4. The suspect was released on a R1 500 bail following his appearance in Grootvlei Magistrate Court the following day.
Part of improving road safety, the traffic officers have impounded 352 vehicles and discontinued 225 which included busses and light motor vehicles. The total number of vehicles stopped and checked in the province thus far is 48 927.
The MEC called on traffic officers to work hard to ensure that all reckless drivers are brought to book during the festive season. He said that there is no room for negligent driving on the road and that he would never support dishonest traffic officers in the event of accepting bribes.
He has further urged community members and other road users to assist government by reporting any bad driving or corruption so that appropriate steps are taken against the perpetrators.
He has further called on Justice Crime Prevention and Security to ensure that those who are found on the wrong side of law receive maximum permissible sentences so that irresponsible driving is dealt with.
