Imposing of hefty fines and jail sentences for reckless driving will contribute positively towards making roads safer. It will further bring down incidences of reckless and negligent driving on the part of many motorists. This is according to Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane who was responding to the sentencing of several motorists at Nelspruit Magistrate Court mainly for speeding. These offences occurred on N4 Toll Road near Ngodwana.
The MEC believes that the courts play an important role in road safety because those who are punished will know the importance of using the road safely. He also added that the sentencing of offenders would further deter other drivers from misbehaving when they are behind the steering wheel. He explained that the punishment of traffic offenders also lends credibility to government’s zero-tolerance stance towards reckless and negligent driving.
He went on to say: “When courts punish wrong doers, our law enforcement will also be encouraged to work even harder in order to bring to book those who disregard traffic regulations and are needlessly endangering other people’s lives. Sentencing of these offenders is also about preventing unnecessary road crashes that injure and kill many people on the road.”
The law enforcement should therefore be commended for having no mercy towards these offenders when they were arrested earlier this year. 24 of these culprits were all found guilty for over speeding in arrests that were effected from January to April 2018 in Mbombela,
The drivers were ordered to pay fines ranging from R1500 to R8000 and those who failed to pay the fines, faced imprisonment from three to eight months.
Mvemve Hlophe who was caught driving 155 Km/h on a 100 Km/h zone in Ngodwana is one of the motorists who was found guilty for overspeeding. Hlophe was fined an amount of R8000 or 8 months imprisonment.
A BMW X5 driver, Vusi Hlatshwayo recorded the highest speed during the period under review as he was driving 177 Km/h on a 120 Km/h area. Hlatshwayo was fined R4000 or 6 months imprisonment.
As over speeding is one of the major contributors to the escalation of road crashes and loss of lives, Ngomane urged traffic officers not to take any word from those who break the rules of the road hence they must be strict and ensure that they arrest them. He said the arrest of the lawbreakers will positively contribute to the reduction of lawlessness on the road and crashes.
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Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 1575
Mobile: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za