Johannesburg - Metro police made a record number of arrests this past weekend, and they are warning drivers who break the law that there will be no mercy.
A record 476 motorists were arrested for drunken-driving.
The Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) said it would continue an intensive anti-drunk-driving campaign for the next two weeks.
JMPD spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said that during normal operations throughout the year, an average of about 250 people were arrested at weekends for drunk driving. “People just don’t learn,” he said.
SA leads world in drink-drive deaths
“Many motorists are still risking their own safety as well as that of other road users by driving their vehicles after they have consumed alcohol that is above the legal limit of 0.24mg/1000ml.
“If you're going to drink, then don't drive, either take a cab or make some other arrangement to get home,” said Minnaar.
SPEEDING ARRESTS
The ‘Festive Season Operation’ in general had been a huge success, he said, with about 1000 motorists arrested for speeding.
The record speed was 249km/h on the N1 in Midrand. “At that speed, the motorist was arrested and he has to appear in court,” he said.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation said it would release a full report on road deaths during the festive season at a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday.
In Cape Town on Friday, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said the number of fatal crashes and fatalities over the 2014/15 festive season had shown a slight decrease when compared to previous years.
She said 1118 fatal road accidents were recorded between December 1 and January 5 with 1368 fatalities, a reduction of 2.5 percent of fatal crashes and 0.6 percent for fatalities.
The Star
Follow me on Twitter: @annacox