Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has warned that law enforcers will target pedestrian jaywalking; drinking and walking; moving violations such as unsafe overtaking and the use of cell phones while driving during the festive season.
Speaking at the KwaZulu-Natal Arrive Alive campaign on Thursday, Ndebele said these roadblocks and roadside checkpoints will continue until the end of January next year.
"Our enforcement officers will stop and check no less than 1 million vehicles and drivers between 1 December this year and 31 January 2010," he said.
Ndebele said patrols, speed monitoring and road safety awareness campaigns will be part of the zero tolerance campaign this festive season.
"We are targeting pedestrian jaywalking; drinking and walking; and pedestrians on freeways; speeding; drinking and driving; moving violations such as unsafe overtaking; use of cell phones while driving; red light infringements and reckless and negligent driving.
"We will also be checking driver fitness, vehicle roadworthiness, especially taxis and buses; overloading, passengers and goods as well as wearing of seatbelts," he said.
Law enforcers will also be targeting vehicles along main arterial routes to different provinces.
Overloading in bakkies, mini-bus taxis and buses will be targeted, he said. Public transport operators and drivers have been urged to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and that they do not put the lives of innocent commuters at risk.
"We urge all drivers to stop and take a break every two hours or 200 kilometres or have relief drivers."
He said the department has also partnered with the private sector to ensure that drivers are able to test their own alcohol levels before driving, through purchasing a disposable alcohol breathalyzer which will be on sale at selected garages.
"We hope to have these disposable breathalyzers also available at other outlets in the near future," he said.
