Vehicles to be impounded for traffic offences?

Western Cape traffic officials
are adamant that impounding
vehicles will deter traffic
offenders.
Having just published the
draft Western Cape Provincial
Road Traffic Administration
Amendment Bill, 2016 for
public comment, authorities
say there is a dire need for
more stringent action to curb
the on-going contravention of
traffic laws.
The Bill proposes amending
the Western Cape Provincial
Road Traffic Administration
Act, 2012, (Act 6 of 2012) to
permit the impounding of
vehicles for certain serious
road traffic offences, and to
encourage road safety through
education, promotion and
research activities.
According to the Western
Cape’s MEC for transport,
Donald Grant, fines are simply
not an efficient deterrent.
“We need as many stringent
measures in place as possible
to curb road deaths and to
make our roads
safer. The impound
legislation will
form an additional
sanction for offenders, and
not replace existing sanctions
like fines,” he told FTW. “The
legislation hopes to remove
immediate safety threats from
the road which will invariably
make our roads safer.”
Some identified offences
that will result in vehicle
impoundment include illegal
street racing, unroadworthy
vehicles, unregistered
vehicles, number plates
missing and driving a vehicle
without a valid driver’s
licence.
Asked how the process of
impoundment would work
Grant said vehicles would
be impounded immediately
and taken to the pound in an
approved manner.
“It must be remembered
that a vehicle that is
unroadworthy cannot be
driven on the road,” he said.
“The vehicle will remain in
the pound until it meets all
statutory requirements and
proof of this is received.”
He said all fines related to
the transgression as well as
payment of the impoundment
fee would have to be made
before any vehicles would be
released.
“When the vehicle
leaves the pound it will be
conforming to all technical
and statutory requirements
and will be driven by a driver
with a valid driver’s licence,”
he said.
But road safety experts,
whilst agreeing with the
MEC about more stringent
action, are questioning
how much impact vehicle
impoundment will have.
“Any move to enforce more
stringent laws and to create
a safer driving environment
must be commended, but
the impounding of vehicles
brings with it its own set
of challenges,” said Eugene
Herbert, group managing
director of Masterdrive.
Especially in the freight
environment where high
value cargoes are being
transported. “You have
to have a very secure
environment and process
in place that guarantees
the safety of the cargo.
The system also has to be
devoid of any corruption
and bribery for it to
work or have any
effect,” he said.