Cape cracks down on unsafe vehicles

Cape Town - 120601 - Inspector Andre Norman tests a suspect while Safely Home's Kevin October looks on - A roadblock was held by Provincial and City Traffic Officials on Modderdam road Southbound near the N2 (Bonteheuwel) on Friday night. In the first hour of the road block being set up 8 people were arrested for drunk driving (the lowest alcohol reading on the Drager was 0.38 almost twice the legal limit) The first people to be arrested was an off-duty police officer. The suspects were taken to the Bishop Lavis Police Station for processing. Also nabbed was a 17 year old taxi driver driving an unroadworthy taxi. The normal driver was too drunk to drive so they sent the 17 year old to drive the taxi. The taxi was impounded and the youth was taken to Bishop Lavis police station to wait for his parents before being charged. His parents were also allegedly too drunk to come to the scene. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Cape Town - 120601 - Inspector Andre Norman tests a suspect while Safely Home's Kevin October looks on - A roadblock was held by Provincial and City Traffic Officials on Modderdam road Southbound near the N2 (Bonteheuwel) on Friday night. In the first hour of the road block being set up 8 people were arrested for drunk driving (the lowest alcohol reading on the Drager was 0.38 almost twice the legal limit) The first people to be arrested was an off-duty police officer. The suspects were taken to the Bishop Lavis Police Station for processing. Also nabbed was a 17 year old taxi driver driving an unroadworthy taxi. The normal driver was too drunk to drive so they sent the 17 year old to drive the taxi. The taxi was impounded and the youth was taken to Bishop Lavis police station to wait for his parents before being charged. His parents were also allegedly too drunk to come to the scene. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Published Sep 15, 2014

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Cape Town - The city has impounded nearly 60 public transport vehicles in five days in a double-sided campaign focusing on public transport operators and seatbelt use.

Complaints about public transport vehicles and illegal drivers prompted the city’s traffic services to launch “Operation Restore” on Wednesday 10 September.

So far, 25 people have been arrested, 838 have been fined and 56 vehicles impounded. The suburb of Table View yielded the most arrests, with Delft leading the impoundment tally and Philippi drivers raking in the most fines.

Seven of the arrested drivers were taken into custody for reckless and negligent driving, while most of the others were arrested for outstanding warrants. Of those checked, 192 vehicles were found to be overloaded and 147 drivers were unlicensed.

“These statistics prove the disregard that some public transport operators have for their passengers, without whom they wouldn’t be in business in the first place.”

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said: “Public transport is a vital cog in our economic machinery, but just like everyone else, they need to operate within the bounds of the law.”

This week, Cape Town Traffic Services will turn its focus to seatbelts.

“Many people still ignore this very basic safety mechanism that could mean the difference between life and death,” Smith said. “Most cars nowadays are fitted with seatbelts in the front and rear seats, so motorists really have no excuse not to strap in their children.”

The punishment for not wearing a seatbelt or driving with a faulty belt is R500 – but failing to secure a child under the age of 14 will earn the driver a R1000 fine.

The Argus

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