Drunk driving accounted for
27.1% of fatal crashes in South Africa and is estimated to cost the economy
R18.2-billion each year, new research revealed. The research was done by the Road Traffic Management Corporation
(RTMC) in collaboration with the
South African Medical Research Council and Unisa. This as the government is
pushing for a 0% alcohol level for motorists with the introduction of the Road
Traffic Amendment Bill. The research found that alcohol-attributed crashes
accounted for the smallest proportion of cases at 5.5% while speeding stood at
52%, followed by other driver risks at 42%. It also found that pedestrians were
three times more likely to die in a crash where the driver was intoxicated. RTMC
spokesperson Simon Zwane said drunk driving operations had to be prioritised
during the night, weekends and throughout the year as evidence showed that 55%
of fatal crashes occurred at night.
“About three out of five happen over the weekends
and 70% happen during non-vacation periods,” said Zwane. He recently called on
law enforcement authorities to step up their drunk driving operations every
night and make it difficult for drunk drivers to use public roads. This comes
as minister of transport Fikile Mbalula during an alert level 2 transport
directions media briefing, spoke of a bill that introduced a 0% alcohol level
for all motorists. “The Road Traffic Amendment Bill was introduced earlier in
June this year in parliament and introduces 0% alcohol level for all
motorists,” said Mbalula. He said section 65 of the principal act had been
amended as follows: “No person shall be on a public road and drive a vehicle;
occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle as the engine runs, while there is
any concentration of alcohol in any specimen of blood taken from any part of a
person’s body.” The amendment follows the recent death of three Tshwane Metro Police officers were killed in a head-on collision with a suspected drunk driver at
the weekend. “We need to strengthen the law and ensure that innocent lives are
saved,” said Mbalula.
To add to this article, remember that your Insurer follows the Laws set out by
the department of Transport. If drivers are over the legal alcohol limit it is
a policy violation and claims will not be paid.
For assistance of access to more information regarding this article you can visit our website www.esbrokers.co.za
Article courtesy of Pretoria Rekord