1. Create awareness of the Drinking & Driving/Walking problem in South Africa, as 9,000 people die each year,& 75,000 others are injured, due to alcohol misuse.
This costs our Economy R25 Billion a yr.
Engage the Media to report incidences - this is proven to stop Drunk Driving.
2. Work with the Law and others, to pressurize the Government to implement proper and prohibitive law. Responsible driving generally only comes about because people are afraid of the Legal and Financial repercussions of their actions. I.e. Heavy fines /Suspended Licenses / Alcohol Treatment/Jail.
3. Drivers licenses need to be automatically suspended as per the National Road Traffic Act. 1st offence - 6mths; 2nd offence - 5yrs; 3rd or subsequent offence - 10 yrs or more. This is one proven thing that stops recidivism. Start imprisoning offenders especially for repeat transgressions. Imprisonment of 6yrs allowed. In the case of death from drink driving, imprisonment of up to 9 years allowed. Confiscation of cars in serious cases. (4x OLL, and serious injuries/death.).
4. Frequent random breath alcohol testing (RBT) needed all year. Use Breath Alcohol Testers (Draegers) in all Provinces. They are Legal in SA!!
5. Traffic Officers need to be on duty for 24 hours a day, & especially after 12pm on Friday & Saturday nights, when many crashes happen. Test all crash drivers for alcohol. Increase no. of Traffic Officers.
6. The Government needs to appoint more Policemen to assist with drink – driving issues, including charging drink drivers, accompanying them for blood tests, and taking statements after car crashes.
7. Implementation of a program for graduated licensing for novice drivers. Zero alcohol for New Drivers for 3 yrs. 0,00g per 100ml BAL for first 3 years after getting your license, regardless of age.
8. Education via talks, articles, posters, pamphlets on Drinking and Driving / Effects on Driving Skills, Units of Alcohol. Provide free information on SADD website.
9. Implementation of referral of all drink drivers & severely intoxicated trauma patients for substance abuse treatment. This should include information about Units of Alcohol, and the effect of alcohol on driving skills, assessment of Alcoholism, etc. Work with NICRO re Community Service sentences.
10. Recommend that the money generated from drink driving and speeding fines be used by Dept. of Transport, and RTMC, to be used to make the roads safer.
11. Ask for the introduction of a graduated sentencing and fining system, according to the number of drinks a person is over the legal limit. (As in the fining system that has been implemented with speeding.)The Law allows fines of up to R120, 000 for Drink Driving, and R180, 000 for Culpable Homicide.
12. Implement the Points Demerit System.
13. Provide Breathalyzers free, like condoms. This will save the country millions of Rands.
14. No open canisters of alcohol should be allowed in a vehicle.
15. Publish the names and Blood Alcohol Level/Breath Alcohol Content, (BAL/BAC) of offenders in each Newspaper, around the country. This is proven to stop drunk driving.
__________________________

“My daughter, Melindi (now 12 years old) has been paralysed
since age 4, after she was in a car accident.
Needless to say, the other driver was under the influence.”
- Hanna van Eck, mother of Melindi
25 people are put into wheelchairs
daily due to car crashes in South Africa.
____________________________
I went to a party,
And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mum
So I had a sprite instead.
I felt proud of myself,
The way you said I would,
That I didn't drink and drive,
Though some friends said I should.
I made a healthy choice,
And your advice to me was right,
The party finally ended,
And the kids drove out of sight.
I got into my car,
Sure to get home in one piece,
I never knew what was coming, Mum
Something I expected least.
Now I'm lying on the pavement,
And I hear the policeman say,
The kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mum, his voice seems far away.
My own blood's all around me,
As I try hard not to cry.
I can hear the paramedic say,
This girl is going to die.
I'm sure the guy had no idea,
While he was flying high,
Because he chose to drink and drive,
Now I would have to die.
So why do people do it, Mum
Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
Like a hundred stabbing knives.
Someone should have taught him,
That it's wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his parents had,
I'd still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mum
I'm getting really scared.
These are my final moments,
And I'm so unprepared.
I wish that you could hold me Mum,
As I lie here and die.
I wish that I could say, "I love you, Mum!"
So I love you and good-bye.
_________________________
|