Almost 28 000 vehicles have been stopped at roadblocks set up to weed out drunk drivers, overloaders and people driving unroadworthy vehicles in the Western Cape, the provincial transport department said on Monday.
Of the 27,912 vehicles stopped, the alcohol readings of 5,089 motorists were tested and 87 were arrested for being over the limit, spokesperson Byron La Hoe said. The most arrests in one area - 19 - were in Somerset West for drunk driving, with one driver registering almost seven times over the legal limit.
Seven of the 2,473 vehicles tested for overloading were impounded and 71 were suspended from the road until they had been certified as roadworthy and their vehicle licences renewed.
A total of 11,972 vehicles were screened for speeding and 3,378 speeding offences were recorded.
Twenty-eight people were arrested in connection with false documentation, alleged bribery and minibus taxi/public transport permit-related offences. All those arrested were expected to appear in court soon.
The fines issued ranged from 430 driver-related offences - such as the illegal use of a cellphones - worth R536,579, and 429 vehicle-related offences involving brakes, lights and tyres, worth R229,611.
Meanwhile, pointspeople were helping direct traffic to ease congestion near some of the province's popular tourist attractions, such as on the way to the Table Mountain Cableway, up Kloofnek Road, and into Camps Bay.
Source: News24
Read this report on News24Wire.com.
