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Motorists traveling during the holiday season can expect traffic officers to use outdated tests to identify drunk drivers, which may include a driver walking along road lines or standing on one leg for a few seconds. to check for signs of poisoning.
This is according to a Sunday Times report, which cited transportation officials in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, where new cases of COVID-19 have risen in recent weeks.
These provinces have suspended the use of breathalyzers to measure intoxication levels as a means of slowing the spread of the virus.
Cape Town’s safety and security chief Richard Bosman told the Sunday Times that it has been a challenge for city traffic officials to identify drunk drivers.
“Unfortunately, there is no alternative that matches the speed and efficiency of mobile detection devices and probative breath analyzer equipment, so staff members have reverted to the old methods until further notice,” Bosman said.
He added that while these new methods are time consuming and inconvenient, officers have made a significant number of arrests.
Officers were also able to film videos of suspected drunk drivers in order to gather evidence for court cases.
However, breathalyzers are still in use in Gauteng, according to the provincial traffic police spokesman Seal Maremane.
“All breathalyzers are cleaned before use. The nozzles that motorists use to blow are always sealed and only motorists open them to make sure they do not pose any risk to their health and safety, “Maremane told the Sunday Times.
COVID-19 access points
The extraordinary measures in the Western and Eastern Cape come amid the expected flooding of South Africans at major vacation spots along the coast during December.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced tightened level 1 lockdown regulations for one of those destinations: Nelson Mandela Bay.
“There is now clear evidence of a resurgence of infections in parts of our country, which if not dealt with decisively and directly, could lead to great suffering and death,” Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation.
“We have seen many countries around the world experience a coronavirus resurgence, some with second waves even worse than their initial peak,” Ramaphosa said.
He pointed to other regions where there is also a risk of a COVID-19 resurgence: Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route District in the Western Cape.
“Consistent with our differentiated approach to managing the pandemic, we will implement additional measures in those areas identified as coronavirus hot spots,” he said.
“At alert level 1, we have the measures we need to control the virus, all measures are in place, but the main problem is that there are parts of the country where people are not complying with restrictions,” Ramaphosa said.
As part of the declaration of the Metropolitan Municipality of Nelson Mandela Bay as a hotspot, the following restrictions will apply in the region:
- The hours of the curfew are from 22:00 to 04:00. No person can be out of their place of residence except in cases of emergency and essential workers authorized to work during these hours.
- The sale of alcohol at the points of sale is only allowed from 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Thursday.
- The consumption of alcohol in public places is strictly prohibited. Ramaphosa said this is necessary to avoid large social gatherings in places like beaches and parks.
- Meetings cannot be attended by more than 100 people for indoor events and 250 for outdoor venues. At all times, the number of people in a meeting cannot exceed 50% of the load capacity of the venue.
- All post-funeral gatherings are prohibited.
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