JMPD to deploy mobile alcohol testing centres during festive season

This was announced by the city’s Public Safety MMC David Tembe at the launch of a festive season safety campaign at a roadblock along the N1 at the Buccleuch interchange on Tuesday.

Known as the Evidentiary Breath Alcohol Testing (EBAT) mobile units, the trucks have two compartments where motorists undergo breathalyser or blood tests.

This eliminates the need to transport suspected drunk drivers to facilities to have their blood drawn for testing, as the JMPD’s Xolani Fihla explains.

“So instead of doing the preliminary alcohol breath test and then taking the person to an evidence centre somewhere else, they will be to do it on-site, and this will make it easier for them to check if the person is under the influence of alcohol and immediately process the scene.

“Also, the machinery is admissible in court, it has been approved by the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] and the DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] so, it will make it easier for our officers to execute their duties.”

Addressing JMPD officers, Tembe said they aim to reduce road fatalities in the province by 20%.

“Our annual target of dealing with fatalities on our roads is 3% but officers of public safety in Johannesburg have committed to 20%, they are saying: for this one we are going to save lives.”

A total of 1 685 fatalities were recorded on the country’s roads last year, a 14% increase from the same period in 2020.

Gauteng recorded a 15.5% increase from 238 fatalities in the previous period to 275.

Tembe said they would also increase visibility through roadside checks across all seven regions.

This would include the enforcement of bylaws.

“We have identified 10 hotspot areas, along with new trends and activities,” said Tembe. “We will deploy every resource available to us in the fight against festive season carnage.”

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