Increased jail time for serious traffic offenders!
The high amount of road accidents and deaths this festive season may result in increased jail time for serious traffic offences in the near future.
The government was considering more severe penalties and minimum jail time for those who commit serious traffic offences, said Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and her justice counterpart, Michael Masutha, on Wednesday.
“Despite a number of interventions, engagements, educational and awareness initiatives aimed at changing the behaviour and the attitude of our road users, road users continue unabated in disobeying the rules of the road,” the ministers said in a joint media statement following a meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting concluded that the high amount of road deaths in South Africa, necessitated a number of interventions and changes that need to be considered.
“A very disturbing reality was recently confirmed by the festive season report which depicted that human factors contributed the most to the crashes, with many collisions occurring as a result of jay-walking, speed that was too high for circumstances, overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, hit and run and driving under the influence of alcohol,”
the statement read. Adding that,
“This unwarranted and undesirable state of affairs cannot be left unchallenged.”
The proposed changes also involve no longer allowing bail for those who commit serious road traffic offences and would be subjected to jail time prior to their court appearance.
The meeting between the two ministers also suggested the idea of a minimum mandatory jail time sentence of at least two years, for those found guilty of a serious traffic offence.
“Equally important was a deep soul searching consideration for imposition of heavy penalties and or fines for traffic offences,”
the ministers said.
In light of the severe punishment the proposal suggests for serious traffic offenders, there would need to be re-classification of these offences, considering one could face two years of jail time .
“We remain resilient and determined to leave no stone unturned in eradicating and seriously reducing the carnages, fatalities and lawlessness on our roads. The rule of law should at all material times reign supreme in our country.”
This past festive season, 1755 people died on South African roads as a result of road accidents, an increase of 11% from the previous year.
Source: IOL