Cape Town city’s mayoral committee member Mr. JP Smith has stated that from July 1, traffic officials will be out to enforce a by-law that prohibits drivers from talking on the phone or sending texts while driving.
Drivers caught flouting the new law will have their mobile phones confiscated for a period of 24 hours. They will further pay a fine of ZAR5,000.
The by-law is expected to discourage mobile phone usage while driving. Studies show that the habit increases the probability of an accident occurring — and that it is more dangerous than drinking alcohol and driving.
According to Smith, mobile phones confiscated by the traffic police could be collected at the vehicle pound at Gallows Hill Traffic Department, Green Point, after 24 hours of being confiscated. Drivers will have to produce an identity document when collecting their phones.
To ensure safe keeping of the phones, they would be kept in special boxes which would be sealed in driver’s presence. Each driver would be issued with a serial number corresponding to that on the box containing her phone.
The seal will only be broken in the driver’s presence once she collects the phone. Also, drivers will be allowed to remove their SIM and memory cards from their phones.
Promulgated last year on July 22, the by-law states that (among other things):
- Motorists may not drive a vehicle on a public road while holding a cellphone or any other communication device in one or both hands or with any other part of the body.
- Motorists may not drive while using or operating a cellphone or other communication device unless it is attached to the vehicle or is a fixture in the vehicle and remains attached while in use.
- Hands-free kits or headgear must be designed in such a way that the user does not need to hold the device with any part of the body.
