The solution to (drunk) motorists killing other road users? Opinions/Suggestions:

[lyslexic]

All these suggestions made just prosecute the offender, but wont solve the problem, that wont bring someone back after it happened.

 

Only way is to get decent public transport, its very hard to go out for a few drinks and find your way back without it. Easy for non-drinkers to criticise but a way is needed to get drinkers safety back home without a taxi fee of R400+

 

If you can't afford the taxi fare back then you can't afford to go out. The other solution is not to drink.

[Shebeen]

Drink driving is part of the culture in RSA, it will take years to make it socially unacceptable. I have cousins in australia who have spent gap years here to provide the reality check.

 

99% of the time the driver gets home no problems, but it's the other 1% that is the disaster. I'll openly admit to driving over the limit when I was younger/sillier/crazier, but luckily never had any issues. If the accused feels remorse for his actions, then he has my sympathy because he is a victim of the culture that allows drink driving to be acceptable. There have been many like him before made into scapegoats but I don't think it did much to erode this culture.

 

I think the best form of education and awareness for this problem is not big ad campaigns but nights in jail and word of mouth, if you get caught and are gooied in the tjookie then it's you're own fault - not bad luck.

[Shebeen]

If you can't afford the taxi fare back then you can't afford to go out. The other solution is not to drink.

that's nice and cool, but I don't agree with it one bit..okes will still find a way no matter what.

[Nettie R]

On this one: is it not possible to set up a system where if a guy is killed you could get someone from the DPP's office to attend the scene to make sure correct procedure is followed?

Funny you should mention that. The traffic dept used to have units (not sure if they still do) who were dispatched to an accident scene purely to check if state property (traffic lights, etc) were damaged and to get the details of the person responsible. It would've been nice to have someone there to check procedure. The sad fact is that prosecution depts are overwhelmed, understaffed etc. I have yet to see a court case being handled decisively and finalized on the accused first appearance.

I agree our cycling federation must get on board and so we will all feel we contribute to saver cycling. Pay a few lawyers in each province a retention fee and be available on a cellphone number for guidance to all who find themselves a witness to such crime?

[fabes]

All these suggestions made just prosecute the offender, but wont solve the problem, that wont bring someone back after it happened.

 

Only way is to get decent public transport, its very hard to go out for a few drinks and find your way back without it. Easy for non-drinkers to criticise but a way is needed to get drinkers safety back home without a taxi fee of R400+

Unfortunately that is not going to happen in this country any time soon. I feel that if you can afford to go out and have some drinks then you can afford goodfellas or a cab ride home. If not then you can you can stay at home and drink around a fire

 

https://www.gfellas.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=4

 

Here is the link to Goodfellas

[TNT1]

Good call to split the thread.

But I really think best way to honor someone killed like Clem was is to do something to solve the problem. So can we try and keep the thread positive (or should I say optimistic?) and not pull other people's suggestions down? Let's hear and think first before we say it won't work? How do we know it's not worth speaking to someone/ trying an approach til we've done it?

 

I agree 1000%

 

Apologies if I inadvertently shot anyone down. Not my intention at all.

[JGR]

If you can't afford the taxi fare back then you can't afford to go out. The other solution is not to drink.

I agree with braailegend and posted something similar. We are treating the symptom and not the cause. People will go and out and drink - how they get home is where gov can step in.

 

If i got out with my girlfriend and grab a pizza and bottle of red it doesnt really seem fair that we pay R400 for the dinner and R300 for the cab? If there was a cheap alternative people would use it (I catch cabs but live in the city and its very seldom over R40 so doesnt effect me) but i caught a cab in JHB and the distance was about 6km and they charge me R350 ..... if you are alone this is almost impossible.

 

In Europe people drink from an earlier ag (legally) but they dont have the same level of problem as we do - why is that?

[MooToo]

So what is the cost of a DUI? R10k and a criminal charge or someone's life? Goodfellas is a cheaper solution. Try it, you could save yourself a load of cash and hassles.

[gummibear]

 

In Europe people drink from an earlier ag (legally) but they dont have the same level of problem as we do - why is that?

 

Traffic and driving are policed very well.

Not a day goes by that I don't see a road block and spot breatheralizer checks.

Your drivers is taken away on the spot and your car is impounded if you are over the limit.

People here respect the law........count how many people you see jumping a red light in SA per day.

They do it because they know that they can get away with it.

I was in SA in August for 2 weeks and saw one traffic cop in that time.........she was standing in front of me in a bank.

[lyslexic]

If i got out with my girlfriend and grab a pizza and bottle of red it doesnt really seem fair that we pay R400 for the dinner and R300 for the cab? If there was a cheap alternative people would use it (I catch cabs but live in the city and its very seldom over R40 so doesnt effect me) but i caught a cab in JHB and the distance was about 6km and they charge me R350 ..... if you are alone this is almost impossible.

 

All i'm saying is that you should budget R700 for your outing if you are planning on drinking, or if you only have R400 for dinner, don't drink. Being single, I would welcome the idea of 24/7 public transport and use it but the reality is that we don't have that and won't have that in the near future, so for now, if I go out I either don't drink or budget the extra R600 for cab fare if I want to drink. (R300 home and R300 back to fetch my car the next day).

[JGR]

All i'm saying is that you should budget R700 for your outing if you are planning on drinking, or if you only have R400 for dinner, don't drink. Being single, I would welcome the idea of 24/7 public transport and use it but the reality is that we don't have that and won't have that in the near future, so for now, if I go out I either don't drink or budget the extra R600 for cab fare if I want to drink. (R300 home and R300 back to fetch my car the next day).

You are missing my point - you are in the 1% that would do that. If you give people a cheap usable alternative they will use it. As it stands many suburbs dont even have cabs

[JGR]

Traffic and driving are policed very well.

Not a day goes by that I don't see a road block and spot breatheralizer checks.

Your drivers is taken away on the spot and your car is impounded if you are over the limit.

People here respect the law........count how many people you see jumping a red light in SA per day.

They do it because they know that they can get away with it.

I was in SA in August for 2 weeks and saw one traffic cop in that time.........she was standing in front of me in a bank.

Thats exactly my point - they respect the law but more importantly have a higher inherint EQ and maturity to drinking (except the british ) Also if people drink from a young age they know they have to take the night train ...but they have always had this option.

[Bennie Dikwiel]

The driver, Mr Andre Gouws (26) now faces a MURDER charge !!!

http://www.algoafm.co.za/article.aspx?id=3715

[lyslexic]

You are missing my point - you are in the 1% that would do that. If you give people a cheap usable alternative they will use it. As it stands many suburbs dont even have cabs

 

I get it and I agree. A Night bus would be a good cheap alternative.

[Escapee..]

Even if there was an easy/cheaper alternative you will still get some idiot that wants to drive home.

 

I went to a wedding a while ago, was about 90 minutes drive from JHB. There was very cheap, very nice accommodation available but there was still some people that drove home at 3h00 the next morning.

 

Too many "it will never happen to me" cowboys in SA

[JGR]

I get it and I agree. A Night bus would be a good cheap alternative.

Sometimes the night bus can be the best part of the evening ..if you dont fall asleep and miss your stop