Driving device for SA 'crisis'

A sophisticated device which monitors drinking and driving should be mandatory in South Africa, organisation South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD) said on Tuesday.

Sadd's Caro SMit said she had written to Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele asking that the devices, called Interlocks, be introduced.

"Alcohol Ignition Interlocks are a solution for convicted drink drivers,” said Smit who has just returned from an Interlock Conference in Australia.

"Research around the world has found that the removal of licenses is not a solution, as most people continue to drive without licenses. With Alcohol ignition Interlocks they are able to keep their licenses and drive safely but cannot drive drunk."

She said the device is used together with alcohol education, treatment and monitoring, "as it has been found if someone has a blood alcohol level of 0.15g (equivalent of Breath of 0.75mg) they probably have a drinking problem and so need treatment as well".

"These devices are used extensively in Australia, North America and Europe. In fact, in France new legislation will mean that all buses will have interlocks fitted."

Crisis on roads

This comes after it was revealed that KwaZulu-Natal's transport MEC is investigating whether it is possible to revoke drivers' licences of people caught driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

"Statistics show that we have an extraordinary crisis on our roads," MEC Willies Mchunu said in a statement.

"The major contributors to this crisis are speeding and drunk driving.

"To deal firmly with these twin evils, I have formed a technical committee to look into various pieces of legislation with a view to allowing the MEC for transport to revoke the drivers' licences of the serial law breakers who are responsible for wantonly maiming and murdering our people."

Depending on the committee's findings, they would begin revoking licences within days, or begin legislative processes to allow this.