Transport Minister Ben Martins has repeated his wish for a total ban on motorists who consumed any amount of alcohol from driving on the country’s roads.
Speaking at yesterday’s national launch of the 2013 road safety Easter holiday campaign in Polokwane, he said he would do away with the current alcohol limit as part of measures to reduce road deaths.
“I see no reason why any motorist should drink and drive,” he said.
The legal limit for breath alcohol content is 0.24mg per 1000ml. The blood alcohol limit is 0.05g per 100ml.
NOT A SINGLE DROP
But the minister proposed that no one who had taken alcohol should get behind the wheel.
He said it was unacceptable that thousands of people died on the roads every month.
“South Africa is not at war, but every month, approximately 1000 people die on our roads. “This means that about 40 people die every day,” Martins said.
CHOOKIE FOR SPEEDSTERS
According to Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Deputy Minister of Transport, who also attended the launch, there were more than 14 000 road deaths a year in the country.
She said drunken drivers would be arrested on the spot and she reminded motorists to observe the 120km/h speed limit on freeways, or face arrest.
“If you are driving at a speed of 160km/h or above, we will certainly arrest you,” said Chikunga. Those without a valid driving licence would also be arrested.
DEADLY BRIBES
Martins said some traffic officials on the roads and at testing centres were corrupt, suggesting that they fuelled road fatalities by demanding bribes.
He urged motorists to not only complain about officials asking for bribes, but to report the matter to the police.
“Any transport official who is found asking or soliciting a bribe will be dismissed from work. These corrupt elements within the department taint and bring into disrepute the good names of the majority of our officials,” said Martins.
Pedestrians accounted for 53 percent of road fatalities during last year’s Easter period. The majority of those knocked over by cars had been under the influence of alcohol.
Martins said his department would increase traffic officers’ visibility during this Easter holidays. -The Mercury