Stricter traffic laws required, says MEC

DURBAN 070311 MEC for transport Willies Mchunu , at a memorial service for those who died in a recent taxi accident, Lindelani Sport fields. PICTURE: Jacques Naude

DURBAN 070311 MEC for transport Willies Mchunu , at a memorial service for those who died in a recent taxi accident, Lindelani Sport fields. PICTURE: Jacques Naude

Published Sep 10, 2012

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Durban - Transport MEC, Willies Mchunu, believes that harsher sentences and a critical look into the country’s traffic regulations could prevent more accidents and drunk-driving on KwaZulu-Natal’s roads.

“Drunk-driving is a problem, in fact it is the major cause of accidents on our roads,” he said.

Mchunu was speaking to the Daily News at a recent taxi summit, where he said speed coupled with drunk-driving was a “nasty combination” behind the wheel.

He said despite numerous campaigns to curb drunk-driving, more and more motorists were being arrested at roadblocks.

Mchunu said he was concerned that the number of drunk drivers could escalate during the festive period.

He said he would value harsher sentences on drivers that broke any law on the road.

South Africans Against Drunk Driving director, Caro Smit, said the government was all talk and no action when it came to governing the roads and motorists.

Smit said justice needed to be swifter when it came to cases relating to breaking the rules of the road and she recommended that there be special courts specifically for motorists.

Mchunu said there were lots of other measures that could be taken besides harsher sentences, but in the interim the best thing was for police to continue with roadblocks. - Daily News

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