Zero tolerance for drinking and driving
JOBURG – Many influential and prominent figures of society welcomed the new proposal from the national Department of Transport which proposes to prohibit motorists to drive under the influence of liquor or drugs.
The proposed new section of law states that “Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs having a narcotic effect (is) prohibited”. The proposed changes are outlined in the Draft National Road Traffic Amendment Bill gazetted last week for public comment. The proposal reads, “No person shall on a public road (a) drive a vehicle, or (b) occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle, the engine of which is running, while there is a concentration of alcohol in any specimen of blood taken from any part of his or her body”. Current law allows drivers to have up to 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 0.02g/100ml for professional drivers.
Yusuf Abramjee, Lead SA activist and Primedia broadcasting head of news and current affairs, said, “I support it… This is long overdue. Far too many people are killed on our roads as a result of drunk drivers. We need strict law enforcement. We must also ensure that those arrested for drunk driving are convicted and punished. Far too many people arrested for drunk driving walk free because of technician and other reasons.” Abramjee said Lead SA had repeatedly called on authorities to name and shame drunk drivers. “We repeat the call yet again, it’s time for the laws to be implemented with all seriousness,” he said.
Meanwhile, IRS forensic investigations chairperson, and host of Corruption Busters Show on ChaiFM, Chad Thomas said, “I drink alcohol yet I support this proposal 100 percent. The death toll on our roads as a result of drunk drivers is far too high and the only way that we can address this is to outlaw drinking and driving completely. Meanwhile, Quintin van Kerken, CEO of Anti Drug Alliance South Africa, said, “We fully support the proposed changes. It’s about time.”
A prominent environmentalist and architect Marian Laserson said, “Like any other laws, there has to be law enforcement. Unfortunately there is such corruption in our law enforcement agencies that those who break the law get away with it for a ‘consideration.’ So, while I support the condition in the bill, I have little faith in its implementation.”
National co-ordinator of Awethu Project Maurice Smithers said, “I think this is a very good step in the right direction. There are people who would argue that a small amount of alcohol in the bloodstream does not have an effect on one’s driving. I think it has become necessary to adopt a zero tolerance approach, as some other countries have done.
However, steps must be put in place to address the wider problem of alcohol abuse. So the introduction of a no-liquor driving policy must be backed up by effective, incorruptible law enforcement by all role players.
