Drunk driver arrests are skyrocketing

Between Thursday and Saturday, 934 motorists were arrested across the country for drunk driving. (Archive photo for illustration.)

Alcohol-related arrests were up 39% on Saturday compared to Easter weekend last year.

Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says law enforcement officers are intensifying efforts to save lives on the roads this year, because drunk driving is a major headache over the Easter period.

Between Thursday and Saturday, 934 motorists were arrested across the country. Zwane says this is 263 more arrests compared to the same period last year. “There is an increase of 31.6% in the number of vehicles seized. A total of 1,215 vehicles were impounded over the period, compared to 923 in the same period last year.”

Zwane says this means more vehicles are transporting passengers without permits or violating permit conditions, because people are trying to make a quick few rand.

However, a sharp decrease was recorded in the number of unroadworthy vehicles, which fell by almost 30% to 688, compared to last year’s figure of 979 over the same period.

Law enforcement officers will continue to monitor traffic on all national and alternative routes until the end of the Easter weekend, says Zwane.

He appeals to motorists to cooperate with officials and follow the rules. “It’s better to get home late than never.”