Central SA
‘Driver arrested – 16 times over legal alcohol limit’─── 12:58 Tue, 17 Jan 2023
During the release of the 2022/23 festive road fatality statistics, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula revealed that a driver was arrested for being 16 times over the legal limit, saying ”he has to be the drunkard of the century”.
More than 1 400 people died on SA's roads during festive season, down markedly from previous year
Mbalula said 1 451 people died on the country's roads over the December-January holiday season, down markedly from previous year.
Mbalula released the 2022/23 festive season road traffic statistics at the N1 Grasmere Toll Plaza on Tuesday.
The latest statistics reflect a drop of 13.9% when compared to the 1 685 deaths recorded a year ago.
Mbalula says the past year recorded significant gains in efforts to reduce road fatalities.
Algoa FM reports Mbalula released the statistics against the backdrop of the devastating liquified gas tanker explosion in Boksburg on Christmas Eve, which has claimed the lives of 40 people to date and left several others still fighting for their lives in hospital.
Mbalula noted that a number of those killed in the Boksburg tragedy were health and rescue workers who put their lives in harm's way in the service of helping others.
"This is heart-wrenching and a tragedy that should never have happened," he said.
"We, therefore, pay our respects to all those who lost their lives on our roads this festive season. We equally keep them in our prayers and wish a speedy recovery to all those who sustained injuries and continue to recover either in hospital or at home.
Mbalula added that the number of fatal crashes was down 6.5% in the period under review.
He said the number of fatalities was down in most provinces, including the Eastern Cape, with the only increase in road deaths recorded in Gauteng.
"Eastern Cape - fatalities dropped from 210 to 205 resulting in a 2.5% reduction," said the Minister.
"In Gauteng, road deaths increased from 275 to 290 resulting in a 5.5% increase."
Speeding and drinking
Mbalula says on 3 January 2023, a male driver was arrested with breath alcohol levels of 3.99 milligrams per thousand millilitres (3.99mg/1000ml) which is 16.6 times above the limit.
He said this could not be acceptable by any measure.
The man was one of 947 drivers arrested for drunk driving.
Minister Mbalula says speeding infringements remain high on the offence list at 32 110.
He says on the 22nd of December, a VW Golf 7 driver was arrested travelling at 238km/h on the N1 in Wierdabrug, while a Subaru driver was arrested on the 3rd of January driving at 233km/h on the N4 in Bronkhorstspruit.
Both drivers were granted bail of R1 000.
