Saturday, 1 July, marked the launch of the pilot phase of the Random Breath Testing (RBT) project targeted specifically at drinking and driving.

“We want to change the behaviour of drivers,” Donald Grant, Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works said in his opening statement at the launch of the RBT-campaign.

RBT is a joint venture of the national, provincial, and local governments. It is also in partnership with the SAPS, the Provincial Traffic Services, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Safely Home, the City of Cape Town, and the Traffic services of the Cape Agulhas, Overstrand, and Theewaterskloof municipalities.

RBT in the Overberg is being run as part of the District Safety Plan (DSP). “As road crashes  and  fatalities  increasingly devastate lives and impact negatively on the socio-economic development of the Overstrand, we remain committed to do all we can to tackle the main causes of incidents of this nature to ensure the containment of injuries and fatalities on our roads. Our evidence-based approach continues to yield positive results, helping us to devise innovative solutions aimed at improving road safety. RBT is the latest in the many innovations that we have implemented in the past to save lives,” explained Xen Titus, Senior Superintendent: Traffic Services.

How it works

• Breath testing teams in distinctive RBT uniforms will be conducting rapid, lightweight, Vehicle Check Points at multiple locations in a single shift.

• “Random” refers to the Vehicle Check Points that will be used, which are locations selected  randomly  but  covering the entire operational area.

• Handheld breathaliser devices will then be used to screen motorists for alcohol.

• The testing teams will operate day and night on a shift basis covering any day of the week.

• RBT operations will be over and above normal traffic law enforcement activities.

As RBT is rolled out in the coming months, we believe that it will have a positive impact on behaviour on our roads, and that more and more people will make the life-saving decision: not to drink and drive.

As part of this initiative, Safely Home has also produced a television advertisement highlighting the dangers of drinking and driving, and alerting the public to the roll out of RBT. The pilot project will also be supported online under the Safely Home calendar theme for July “Alcohol and the Roads Don’t Mix”, under the hashtag #BoozeFreeRoads.

The advertisement is live on YouTube on  https://youtu.be/96c__z-fNkM.

“We must continue to do all we can to address the scourge of drinking and driving, and to prevent the senseless loss of life that is usually a result of such behaviour. As part of our Provincial Strategic Goal 3 (PSG 3) and our Alcohol Harms Reduction Game Changer, the Western Cape Government is committed to confronting the dangers of alcohol with an aim to reduce the negative impact that alcohol has on the people of the Western Cape,” Western Cape Traffic’s Kenny Africa added.

Know this

Drinking and driving is a serious crime. RBT units operating in the Overstrand can intercept you at any time, day or night.

Think before you drink before you drive ... Don't drink and drive – make other arrangements.

Remember at anytime, anywhere: Random Breath Testing. Spread the word.

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