REPS, TIMES LAUNCH PRE-FESTIVE SEASON ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

MBABANE – Drink-driving has resulted in the death of eight people since the beginning of the year.
These statistics were released by the National Commissioner of Police (NATCOM), Vusi Masango, who said the festive season is slowly approaching and road traffic accidents continue to claim the lives of emaSwati. He said their statistics indicate that since the beginning of the year until September 30, 2024, a total of 151 road accidents were attributed to drink-driving and were recorded countrywide, while eight of those accidents were fatalities. The statistics reflect an 18 per cent increment of the road carnage.

Concern

He said: “This is a cause for concern for the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) as one life is too many. The statistics indicate an increase in the fatalities on our roads.” Masango said the REPS, in partnership with the Times of Eswatini, is launching a pre-festive season campaign aimed at highlighting, sensitising and creating awareness around the issues of road safety, prevention and reduction of road traffic accidents. He said statistics have indicated that road accidents are also a leading cause of the loss of lives in the country and accidents involving drink-driving cases continue to soar. “The REPS, guided by the annual mantra ‘combating crime and road traffic accidents through robust police action in partnership with the public’ - (kuvikela bucala netingoti temgwaco ngeligalelo lelisetulu ngekubambisana kwemaphoyisa nesive), remains committed to finding lasting solutions to the scourge of road accidents, especially those that are caused by drink-drivers,” he said.

Masango said with the festive season upon us, the REPS will be launching a full-scale campaign, aimed at ensuring that local roads are kept safe at all times and are free of hazardous elements that may cause accidents, leading to the loss of life and other tragedies. He said pedestrians continued to lose their lives, which is a cause for concern, and of the recorded cases, a large portion of the victims were pedestrians. The NATCOM said it is important that all road users respect one another, while giving each other equal opportunities to use the road to avoid loss of life.He said those who will be found to have failed to adhere to traffic laws and are found to be in conflict with the law will face the full might of justice. Masango said all road users have to be prepared to face the consequences of breaking the law on the roads.

It is worth noting that drink-driving is considered a leading cause of negligent driving and results in traffic accidents. Recently, a legal practitioner said the surge in the drink-driving cases could be controlled by charging the maximum fine. He said the fines should be steeper and accompanied by constant programmes meant to dissuade people from engaging in this offence.
Motorists who drink and drive are arrested by traffic police officers for contravening Section 91 (1) read with Section 122 (1) (2) of the Road Traffic Act of 2007. Section 91 of the Road Traffic Act of 2007 addresses the issue of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug having a narcotic effect, or with excessive amount of alcohol in blood or breath and on sub- section 1, it states that a person shall not drive a vehicle on public road or occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle of which the engine is running or not, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug having a narcotic effect.

On the other hand, Section 122 (1) states that a person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act or with any direction, term, condition, demand, determination, requirement, or request hereunder, shall be guilty of an offence. On the other hand, Section 122 (2) states that a person convicted of an offence in terms of subsection (1) read with section 71(1), 91(1) and (2) or shall be liable to a fine not exceeding E5 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

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