Pretoria - More than 670 vehicles were removed from the national roads as part of the festive season holiday traffic law enforcement operations.
Transport Department spokesperson, Logan Maistry, said this included 424 mini-bus taxis, 196 trucks and 56 buses. He further said of these, 230 vehicles were removed from Gauteng roads during the operations that were carried out from 14 to 20 November.
He said 98 563 public transport and freight vehicles and drivers were stopped and screened, and 20 613 fines issued for various offences with the majority of 9 815 fines issued in Gauteng.
Maistry said more than 400 drivers were arrested, including 77 for drunk driving, two for excessive speed, five for reckless and/or negligent driving, 160 for overloading, 30 for public transport permits, 68 for not being in possession of a valid driving licence, two for false documents and 57 for other offences.
He said 169 drivers were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal alone.
From October 2010 to October 2011, 15 051 565 vehicles and drivers were checked, 6 287 308 fines issued for various traffic offences, 21 575 drunk drivers arrested and 60 313 un-roadworthy vehicles discontinued from use, as part of the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) and million-a-month vehicle check announced by Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele on 10 September 2010.
Over the past two months (September and October 2011), more than 2 600 public transport drivers have been arrested as part of the pre-December holiday traffic law enforcement operations and following Minister Ndebele's instruction that every bus and taxi must be stopped and checked.
Ndebele said law enforcement and emergency services officials will be out in full force to ensure safe roads, as we head towards Cop17 and the December holidays.
"For law-abiding road users, these knights in shining armour, will be out there to ensure that you reach your destination safely. For those who blatantly disregard road rules, you will be arrested, detained in police cells, sentenced to a hefty fine or imprisonment and your driving licence will be cancelled or suspended," he said.
Ndebele said drivers involved in fatal road crashes would face charges of murder or culpable homicide.
"Let us celebrate the festive season by appreciating the most precious gift that we have all been given, the gift of life.
"Let us all become Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Let us drive to save lives, and end death on our roads. Report road traffic offences to 0861 400 800," said the minister.
