Four taxi drivers were arrested for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol during a roadblock on the Borchard’s Quarry link onto the N2 this morning.
The suspects were all transporting passengers at the time of their arrests.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said: “This is sadly not unusual, as we have had a number of incidents where taxi drivers have been caught well over the legal blood-alcohol limit during the morning peak. What it speaks to is a lack of regard for the safety of paying customers, without whom the driver would have no income. Odds are that these drivers were drinking until late and then got up for work after a few hours’ sleep. It’s important to realise that alcohol remains in the bloodstream for far longer than most people realise and there is a very good chance that you are still legally drunk the morning after and not fit to be behind the wheel.”
The taxi drivers are among 65 motorists who were arrested in the past week.
Nearly a third of all arrests happened during an illegal street racing operation in the Athlone/Mitchell’s Plain area on Saturday January 12.
The operation resulted in 19 arrests. Six were caught for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, one had produced false information and 12 for reckless and negligent driving. Officers also issued 649 fines for various offences.