- A drunk driver collided head-on with another vehicle in Brackenfell, injuring five people, including one seriously.
- The driver was unharmed and arrested at the scene, while the injured were treated and transported to a nearby hospital.
- Officials emphasise the responsibility of motorists to avoid driving under the influence to prevent such accidents.
Five people were injured, one of which is serious, when a drunk driver collided head-on with another vehicle in Brackenfell last week.
The accident occurred at the intersection at Bottelary and Amandel roads at around 19:00.
Paramedics rushed to the scene where the injured were treated. The drunk driver however sustained no injury and was arrested on the scene by City of Cape Town traffic officers and detained at Brackenfell Police Station.
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“The driver of the other vehicle sustained slight injuries, while one passenger suffered serious injuries. They were transported to a nearby hospital,” says Maxine Bezuidenhout, spokesperson for City Traffic Service.
Ward councillor in Subcouncil 2, and member of the City’s security portfolio Rhynhardt Bressler says drunk driving remains a serious problem on our roads.
he says.
He is of the opinion that motorists carry the duty to change their driving behaviour.
“There are so many options available to you when you go out to socialise. Rather phone an Uber or have a designated sober driver. Just don’t drive when you know you are under the influence of alcohol. Nobody thinks they are too drunk to drive until something goes wrong and then its too late,” he says.
“Numerous traffic lights are bumped over and traffic circles and pavements destroyed. It is impossible to have a traffic cop on every corner to police. It does come down to grown people taking responsibility.”
Statistics
Brackenfell Community Policing Forum shares the publics concern over the high numbers of arrest for drunk driving.
According to the latest available crime statistics, 52 people were arrested for drunk driving over a period of three months between October and December last year. National crime statistics for the fourth quarter of 2023/2024 has not been released yet.
“The perpetrators should realise that you do not only put your own life at risk, but also those of innocent community members. Driving under the influence, is a policeable offence and must be addressed by the relevant role-players to decrease fatalities on our roads, but we also need the assistance of community members to lessen the figures,” says CPF chair Norman Landry.
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He adds that Brackenfell Police along with other role players such as Law Enforcement and Traffic services have regular roadblocks to try and curb the crime.
