George Herald | No mercy for cellphone drivers

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No mercy for cellphone drivers
12:07 (GMT+2), Fri, 06 July 2012

Don't use your cellphone when driving.

MOTORING NEWS - From July Cape Town drivers caught talking or texting on their cellphones while driving can expect hefty fines. The stricter measures are to be welcomed and might well become applicable in George as well.

The city's mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, warned that traffic officials will be enforcing the by-law throughout the city. Those caught can expect their cell phones to be confiscated for 24 hours and to pay a heavy fine.

Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesman Ashref Ismail said the corporation welcomed any intervention that discouraged cell phone use while driving. "A person who talks on the cell phone while driving is four percent more likely to cause an accident and somebody texting while driving is seven percent more likely to be involved in an accident. This almost makes texting more dangerous than drinking and driving," he said.

According to the by-law motorists may not drive a vehicle on a public road while holding a cell phone or any other communication device in one or both hands or with any other part of the body. They may not drive while using or operating a cell phone or other communication device unless it is attached to the vehicle or is a fixture in the vehicle and remains attached while in use.
At present, the city issues between 3 000 and 8 000 fines a month to drivers caught using their phones while driving.

If a cell phone is confiscated, a driver would have to produce an identity document to collect it. Phones will be kept in boxes sealed in the owner's presence. A driver will be issued with a serial number for the box containing his or her phone. The serial number will be included in the impoundment notice and it will only be broken in the driver's presence to ensure the security of the phone. Drivers could remove their SIM or memory cards and also switch the phone off.

Smith said the initiative was part of the Safely Home campaign aimed at reducing the road death toll in the Western Cape by 50% by 2014. He said major causes of road accidents were drinking and driving, speeding, non-use of safety belts and distracted driving.

(Compiled by Emsie Martin - Source: www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news)