August 27, 2020 - Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Drunk driving amendment misses the mark – AA

vuyi on August 27, 2020

The AA is proposing that the 0.05% limit be reduced to 0.02% which is in place in many countries.

Changing traffic laws relating to drink driving is meaningless and will be ineffective if current laws that regulate alcohol and driving are not properly implemented and enforced first. This is the view of the Automobile Association (AA) following the announcement tonight by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on the proposed changes to the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for drivers to be reduced to zero percent.

The Association says drinking and driving can be more effectively combated by reducing the allowable alcohol limits for drivers, and that the courts should impose tougher sentences on offenders. The current enforcement of drunk drivers will not stop those who regularly exceed the limits because there are simply no consequences for their actions. The AA says a zero BAC limit is not going to change this behaviour.

Reducing the blood alcohol limit to zero will not solve the problem of road deaths in South Africa if it is not supported by a thorough, scientific diagnosis of the problem of drink driving…
– Automobile association

Although South Africa’s current Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05% is not out of line with world standards, the crisis on South Africa’s roads demands a tougher approach. The AA is proposing that the 0.05% limit be reduced to 0.02% which is in place in many countries.

The AA notes that the proposed move to reduce the legal limit to zero does not take into consideration the fact that some medications such as cough syrups may contain alcohol. In these cases drivers may find themselves with criminal records for taking one dose of this medication when it will have no material effect on their driving ability.

“Reducing the blood alcohol limit to zero will not solve the problem of road deaths in South Africa if it is not supported by a thorough, scientific diagnosis of the problem of drink driving with proper statistics which back such a move. Behavioural change is needed to solve this problem and that requires proper enforcement of existing laws, and more intensive education of the dangers of drunk driving, both of which do not currently occur,” says the AA.

It is our view that people who drink and drive will not alter their behaviour because there are no consequences…
– AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

The AA says current analyses of drunk driving in South Africa are fragmented and disparate, with no conclusive findings besides those which call for greater research on the matter, a move the AA supports.

“But we cannot have a situation where the government is guessing to what extent alcohol is a contributor of road deaths with no actual plan to deal with the road safety crisis in South Africa as a whole other than to amend the law. This approach amounts to dealing with the issue of drunk driving without first addressing the issue of current enforcement and lack of education,” says the Association.

“It is our view that people who drink and drive will not alter their behaviour because there are no consequences so they’re willing to take that gamble of being caught. Ensuring proper law enforcement should be the first step before amending laws. If law enforcement doesn’t change how it operates now, how will changing the law make a difference?” asks the AA.

Pedestrian safety remains a huge concern but little is being to deal with this problem
– AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

The AA says apart from these concerns, the overall safety of roads in South Africa should enjoy priority before amendments such as these are made.

“Pedestrian safety remains a huge concern but little is being to deal with this problem. Road safety requires a total approach which deals with vehicle safety, pedestrian safety, and more education on road safety,” the AA says.

The AA says it stands by its support of the wide-ranging proposals by the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee last year to improve traffic law enforcement in the country. It says implementing these recommendations and not focusing on one element of road safety such as drunk driving is needed to deal more effectively with the country’s annual road fatalities which it says amount to a national disaster every year.

“There are practical, workable plans on the table to improve traffic law enforcement which were compiled by experts and traffic officers themselves. Yet there are those who seem intent on focusing on one aspect of road safety – drunk driving – as a panacea for road fatalities. It is, in effect, putting a band aid on a gaping wound with the hope that it will stop the flow of blood. It won’t,” concludes the AA.

Women determined to be the change the Automotive Industry needs: Part 5 – Meet Teresa Spenser-Higgs

vuyi on August 27, 2020

Five women in the automotive industry, all accredited members of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud Association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), talk to us about what they love and don’t love about the industry, and how they see the industry evolving.
– ARTICLE COURTESY OF RETAIL MOTORING INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION (RMI)

“I landed in the industry when my husband opened a workshop and needed someone to do the office work,” she explains. “I guess I was really brought up in it though, as my father and grandfather were also in the industry. All my life I had to hold my own in conversation when the men were talking cars, so I always listened and asked questions.”

Most men think women know nothing about cars, but the industry is changing and women are more accepted today.
– Teresa Spenser-Higgs

“When people ask what I do I say it’s a bit like being a mom – I need to be able to do everything (other than fix my car myself). My friends of course think I lunch and have my nails done all day because I’m the boss’s wife, but that’s far from the truth. Instead it’s a combination of HR, industrial relations, debtors, creditors, spares, reception, first aid, marketing and social media, to name a few.”

Teresa loves the honesty of earning a living with your hands. “The muscles in our industry are as a result of hard work; they’re not crafted in a gym,” she says.

She has overcome discrimination with a sense of humour (and silently counting to 10).

“Most men think women know nothing about cars, but the industry is changing and women are more accepted today. They bring a different dynamic to the table. Men may head the industry in a lot of respects but women are the backbone; the infrastructure that allows the head to function properly.”

The future of the industry is exciting, Teresa says, and she is encouraged to see young women choosing related fields of study at colleges.

“There are many opportunities for women – just believe in yourself and don’t let someone else determine your value. It’s important to get your hands dirty while learning everything you can,” is her advice.

“Since I understand the challenges the average workshop faces, I want to be part of the solution and help the industry evolve.”

Women determined to be the change the Automotive Industry needs: Part 4 – Meet Angie Ledwaba

vuyi on August 27, 2020

Five women in the automotive industry, all accredited members of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud Association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), talk to us about what they love and don’t love about the industry, and how they see the industry evolving.
– ARTICLE COURTESY OF RETAIL MOTORING INDUSTRY ORGANIZATION (RMI)

ANGIE LEDWABA, owner of RA Motors, Polokwane, believes more women should be studying mechanical engineering so that they can make the motor industry “more beautiful and less complicated” for future generations.

“Women are such creative and colourful beings, I am confident we can transform the industry all on our own,” she says.

People are flabbergasted by the fact that I am a business owner in such a male-dominated industry,” she says.
– Angie Ledwaba, Owner of RA Motors

Angie admits she has had to develop a thick skin to ward off discrimination, but she actually finds the industry fascinating because it is male-dominated.

“I managed my brother’s workshop for 10 years before buying my own, so now I almost feel like I’m giving back in a way. People are flabbergasted by the fact that I am a business owner in such a male-dominated industry,” she says.

Women determined to be the change the Automotive Industry needs: Part 2 – Meet Sebola Mahura

“Many don’t take you seriously because they believe they can’t get professional help from a woman. I’ve been discriminated against by dealers who have been in business for a long time, as well as the government and private sectors.”

Angie would like to see more educational workshops being offered to expose women to career opportunities in the industry, and she wants to own an engineering company where she can upskill people in mechanical engineering and then employ them.