Cape Town – Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has emphasised alcohol’s role as the primary cause of road accidents, as she joined traffic officials at a roadblock in KwaZulu-Natal’s Mariannhill Toll Plaza.
With the Easter long weekend concluding, many travellers are returning home, prompting increased vigilance from authorities.
According to SABC, Chikunga highlighted the risk posed by intoxicated motorists, particularly during holidays when alcohol consumption typically rises.
“There’s quite a number of them who are drinking and driving in residential areas. We saw it so, we thought that since this is the Easter weekend and end of the month that means that people have got money, they got paid, they will buy alcohol and travel and then they will drive, that will increase the number of accidents,” the report quoted the minister as saying.
Meanwhile, more than 1 000 motorists were arrested and 900 vehicles were impounded nationwide over the Easter weekend, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says.
Offences included drunken driving, false documentation, reckless driving, and overloading.
Most impounded vehicles were in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga for violating transport permits.
“Increased traffic volumes were experienced on Thursday and Friday from approximately 10h00 with N1 North and N3 South recording an average of 2 000 vehicles passing through various tollgates per hour. The N4 East recorded 1 900, while N1 South recorded an average of 1 000 vehicles.
“A total of where 75 961 vehicles were stopped and checked, 916 927 drivers issued with traffic fines for various infringements,” RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
