Reckless drivers face morgue stint

File photo: AFP

File photo: AFP

Published Mar 7, 2013

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Western Cape transport and public works MEC Robin Carlisle has welcomed part of a proposed bill that would make drivers work in mortuaries as punishment for reckless driving.

The proposal has, however, been rejected by the Automobile Association which said the government should think of other forms of punishment.

One of the amendments to the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences system seeks to make rehabilitation for repeat offenders compulsory. This would include making offenders serve at mortuaries and trauma units.

“The plan is to try out these measures in Johannesburg and Pretoria before implementing them nationally.

ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

“I have no objections to that,” Carlisle said on Wednesday. “If people who commit crimes on the roads can see what kind of consequences their actions of reckless driving have for other people I welcome that.”

But, he said, he had other concerns with the bill which would let illegal drivers off the hook.

AA spokesman Gary Ronald said: “We don’t agree that repeat offenders should be put through that. Not everybody can deal with the trauma of seeing a dead body.”

Motorists could do other community service, he said, such as washing state ambulances, police vehicles or working in courts. - Cape Times

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