Drink driving blitz welcome

THE holiday season clampdown on drunken drivers by the police and traffic authorities in Nelson Mandela Bay is one all right-minded citizens should welcome given the number of fatal accidents caused by those who foolishly choose to drink and drive. The large number of drivers arrested for flouting the law in this regard over the past few weeks is an indication that too many drivers in the region have no regard for the law or for the safety of their fellow citizens. This in turn is symptomatic of South African society at large where ordinary so-called “law-abiding” people think nothing of drinking and driving, driving through a red traffic light, driving while speaking on a cellphone or allowing children to stand on the front seat of vehicles unrestrained by a seat belt.

Yet while we applaud this campaign to rein in drunk drivers we are concerned that it is not part of a greater, year-long deterrent initiative.

Once the holiday season is at an end drivers who have had more than the legal limit of alcohol know they will be relatively safe from being apprehended by law enforcement officers unless they are involved in an accident. Traffic officers will rarely be seen, especially after hours when drunken driving is rife.

We believe nothing short of a comprehensive and sustained campaign against drunk driving will rid South Africans of the mindset that it is acceptable to drink and drive as long as you do not get caught.

Overseas, in countries like Britain, Australia and New Zealand for example, the assault on drunk drivers is relentless – so much so that those who take a chance know there is a good probability that they will be caught and arrested.

The result is that the incidence of drunk driving has declined markedly. Initiatives targeting long weekends and holiday periods, while welcome, do not result in the long-term deterrent effect so vital in stamping out the menace of drunken driving.

As with any form of crime our law enforcement agencies need to adopt a policy of zero tolerance – if you step over the line and commit an offence you must expect to be arrested and punished.

At present, in South Africa too many people consider themselves above the law or have no respect for the law and their fellow citizens.

Set to make history in Oz?

WHILE the euphoria surrounding the Proteas‘ impressive Test win against their old nemesis Australia is justified, the South African team would be prudent to guard against over-confidence for the remainder of the second Test which started in Melbourne yesterday.

The Aussies, despite the loss of key players such as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, are still the top-ranked Test team in the world and will not give up that title easily.

It is natural, following the victory in Perth, that there should be thoughts about the possibility of an historic Test series win down under – a feat no other South African team has been able to achieve. And given the relative ease with which Graeme Smith‘s men were able to hunt down the imposing victory target set by the Australians on Sunday, a little optimism is not necessarily a bad thing.

But there are still a number of top quality players remaining in the Australian side and they remain a formidable outfit. It is a given they will come back fighting to make amends.

Yet the manner in which Smith‘s side resolutely fought back in the classic Perth Test suggests a measure of self-confidence is not out of place. The team has matured as a unit over the past two seasons and despite a fragile batting tail they have the ability to make history with a victory in either the current Test or the one starting on New Year‘s Day in Sydney.

Opinion