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All the provincial directors of public prosecutions have given the readings of the new Drager evidentiary breathalyser thumbs up.

This follows a meeting between the Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, and Transport Minister, Mac Maharaj, where all obstacles to full implementation of the breathalyser were cleared. These include availability of expert witnesses, calibration and reliability of the equipment, and the training of traffic officers on the use of the equipment.

The breathalysers, which were bought by the Department of Transport to as part of the Arrive Alive road safety campaign, would be operated according to the specifications published in the Government Gazette last year.

The specifications were developed by a team of experts from various organisations, including the SABS, CSIR, and the offices of the directors of public prosecutions.

The blood-breath level will be testes 0.3mg per 1000ml of the breath- alcohol level - this is equivalent to 0.08g per 100ml blood-alcohol level. This level will be used until the Road Traffic Act is amended to 0,24mg per 1000ml of breath or 0.05g per 100ml of blood - for ordinary drivers. Once amended, the limit for professional - carrying passengers for reward and of vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonne - will be 0.10mg per 1000ml of breath or 0.02 per 100ml of blood.

The breathalyser will play a significant role in reducing crashes on South African roads. This will help traffic officials in getting drunk drives of the road and assist the courts successfully prosecuting the offenders.

South Africa is the first country in the world to prepare stringent and comprehensive specifications for the testing and approval of the equipment prior to its use for law enforcement purposes.

For more information contact Sipho Ngewema on 082-826 0391

Issued by: Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, 16 March 1999

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