Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN
He will make his first court appearance in August.
The Road Traffic Inspectorate, working with the South African Police Service (Saps), have arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 Freeway.
The driver is currently detained in Ladysmith.
According to the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the driver allegedly blew 0.32 mg/1000ml, which is three times more than the legal limit of 0.10 mg/1000 for professional drivers.
ALSO READ: Tow truck driver arrested after KZN crash kills 8
Another truck driver, who was also caught driving intoxicated, will make his first appearance in court on 18 August 2025.
According to Duma, the second driver was caught driving a truck and blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is twenty times more than the legal limit of 0.10mg /1000ml.
KZN truck accidents
KZN has been battling the scourge of truck accidents in recent months, due to several factors.
On 16 May, two trucks collided along the N3 Southbound just after the Peter Brown off-ramp, after one of the trucks allegedly experienced brake failure.
A week before, a collision between a truck and a light delivery vehicle transporting passengers claimed multiple lives on the N2 highway near Empangeni.
ALSO READ: Lifeless body of a driver recovered in KZN after a two-day search
Eight victims lost their lives in the accident.
Duma says the province has adopted a zero-tolerance attitude to drunk drivers due to the high number of accidents.
'Weeks ago, we laid to rest nine victims of a horrific accident involving a truck in Empangeni along the N2,' said Duma.
'Families lost their loved ones and breadwinners, with children becoming orphans as a result of one reckless truck driver.
'During my meeting with senior management last Monday, I instructed our RTI team to intensify their 'no-nonsense, zero-tolerance' and Alufakwa campaign on our roads.
ALSO READ: Truck accident forces closure of N3 toll road as festive season ends
'We undertake to clamp down on bad behaviour in all corners of our province.
'In particular, we are paying more attention to trucks because, more than any vehicle, trucks can damage more vehicles at once, and their accidents can lead to serious injuries because of the impact.'
The department said the country's roads would no longer be 'playgrounds' for irresponsible drivers.
'We must remove all these elements that are costing our country a fortune.
'We have been informed that road accidents cost the South African economy over R164 billion annually, an equivalent of 3.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).'
READ NEXT: Police arrest six truckers for theft of minerals in Pongola, KZN
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