Pietermaritzburg – A drunk truck driver transporting dangerous goods from Gauteng was arrested on the N3 before he could cause a deadly accident, thanks to the swift action of KwaZulu-Natal’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).
The driver, whose blood alcohol content was measured at 0.37%, was intercepted on the Peter Brown Arrestor Bed and immediately taken into custody. His truck has since been impounded and is being held at the RTI’s Mkhondeni Testing Centre.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, praised the officers for their quick response, saying their vigilance likely prevented a tragedy.
“Undoubtedly, this truck driver would have left a trail of destruction on our roads,” Duma said. “We commend our highly motivated, efficient, and vigilant RTI team for acting swiftly and ensuring the arrest before lives were lost.”
According to Duma, accidents caused by reckless and intoxicated truck drivers continue to claim lives and cause major congestion on the province’s key freight corridors. The recent deployment of 177 new traffic officers has strengthened law enforcement efforts under the Zero Tolerance and Alufakwa campaigns, which will be sustained throughout Transport Month and beyond.
Read | Drunk Driver Crashes Into Cars, Assaults RTI Officer in N3 Mayhem
The arrest also forms part of the #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation, a targeted enforcement initiative aimed at cracking down on dangerous driving behaviour and undocumented foreign truck drivers who often flee the scene after major crashes.
“We are determined to remove unfit and illegal drivers from our roads. This operation is about saving lives and holding those who endanger them accountable,” Duma added.
The department reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement against drunk and reckless driving, especially among truck drivers handling hazardous cargo on the N3 freight route.
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