14 nabbed for drunk driving near Gateway
M41 roadblock held by SAPS and RTI nabs errant drivers.
FOURTEEN people were arrested and charged for drunk driving in a roadblock on the M41 (going towards Gateway) on Friday night. The roadblock organised by the Durban North SAPS and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) began just after 9pm. When Northglen News arrived on scene, two drivers had been detained for being over the legal limit, one of whom, protested her innocence to arresting officers.
Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North Police Station, said roadblocks would be a common occurrence to send out a clear message that drunk driving would not be tolerated.
“The M41 is one of the main arterial routes in the North and we have a duty to protect other road users. Arrive Alive said research has shown that more than 35 percent of people who died on South Africa’s roads had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit. Research has also shown that high police visibility can reduce drunk driving fatalities. We want to remind everyone that getting behind the wheel drunk is a terrible idea,” he said.
In February this year, a zero alcohol level was proposed, which was outlined in the Draft National Road Traffic Amendment Bill.
The proposed new section of law states: “Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs having a narcotic effect (is) prohibited”.
Current law allows drivers to have up to 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
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