Cape Town - The prosecution of drunk drivers will become a lot easier and faster with the re-launch of breathalyser testing, called evidential breath alcohol testing, which is set to be reintroduced on Monday.
Department of transport and public works spokesman Byron la Hoe said: “Alcohol plays a causal role in a large proportion of fatal crashes in the Western Cape. Many motorists continue to drink and drive despite repeated warnings by traffic authorities that alcohol and roads don’t mix.
“Drivers who continue to risk their lives and the lives of other citizens heedlessly, who destroy taxpayer-funded infrastructure, and who take policing resources away from attending to other crimes are reminded that unlike blood alcohol testing, Ebat results are immediate.”
Ebat uses a machine that can read how much alcohol is in a person’s breath. It is called “evidential” because the reading can be used as evidence in the prosecution of offenders and is accepted by the courts for this purpose.
In order for the information from an Ebat test to be admissible as evidence in a prosecution, the Ebat machine, the people who operate it, and the testing conditions must meet a specific set of legal requirements.
Western Cape provincial traffic officers using this equipment received training at the Gene Louw Traffic College, and met all requirements.
Swift conclusion of cases
“This means that persons suspected of driving under the influence who are below the legal limit can be released immediately,” said La hoe. “Persons arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence may be detained for some time, often overnight or until the end of a weekend.
“Under the previous system, because of the long delays in obtaining the results of blood tests, such persons would then face a long period of legal uncertainty while the blood test was being processed, often six months or more.”
By contrast, because the results of an Ebat test are instant, the case can be dealt with swiftly and efficiently. The immediate release of the innocent and the swift conclusion of cases for the guilty were the main reasons why Ebat had served the interests of DUI cases with such distinction all over the world, said La Hoe.
Provincial Traffic Services said it would continue to work around the clock to help create safer, alcohol-free roads.
Subscribe to our Newsletter