Excitement has been escalating this week, as tomorrow sees 2010 come to an end and 2011 begin. However, the festive spirit was somewhat dampened (s’cuse pun) due to a fire on Signal Hill today, which began around midday. By four o clock, the fire was still raging.

Two helicopters began the process of putting the fire out through water bombing, then a third joined, followed by a small plane.

It’s now just before five, and the choppers are still going. Let’s hope the fire is put out soon, and that the wildlife of the are not badly affected.

In summer Cape Town often suffers from dreadful runaway fires as the summer is so dry and hot, as well as windy, a deadly combination.

Just last year the Vortex Easter party was brought to a standstill, as a runaway fire burned tents and cars.

We can all do our bit to prevent fires. If you smoke, don’t throw stompies away carelessly. Don’t leave glass lying around on anything which can burn as the glass magnifies the sun.

The firefighters have been travelling back and forth in the choppers extinguishing the fires, which seem to have died down now.

Pictures below:

During the festive season, there is a lot of celebrating to be done and parties to attend. But please, please be careful on the roads. Over 800 people have died on the roads in the last 23 days. These were all accidents that could have been avoided.

Be sensible, if you are on a long journey, take regular rest stops, and don’t drive if you are sleepy. Be passive on the roads: if someone wants to cut you off and drive like a maniac, stay out of their way. Damaged pride is a bad feeling, but death has no feeling, except for family members left behind. And most of all, please do not drink and drive. If you’ve had two or more drinks, get someone else to drive you who is sober, call a taxi or call GoodFellas who will drive you and your car home for you.

Here are some tips from Arrive Alive about staying safe during the festive season:

Drunk Driving and Road Safety

Drunk Driving is one of the biggest threats to Road Safety in South Africa. Research indicates that 50% of people who die on the roads have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.05 gram per 100 millilitres.

Brief Summary:

Legislation:

The National Road Traffic Act (NRTA), Act 93 of 1996 as amended.

Section 65: Driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug having narcotic effect, or with excessive amount of alcohol in blood or breath

1. No person shall on a public road -
   • (a) drive a vehicle; or
   • (b) occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle the engine of which is running, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug having a narcotic effect.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limits:

Concentration of alcohol in blood: 0,05 gram per 100 millilitres (all drivers), professional drivers: 0,02 gram per 100 millilitres.

Breath alcohol content: 0,24 milligrams per 1000 millilitres (all drivers), professional drivers: 0,10 milligrams per 1000 millilitres.

Any person detained for an alleged contravention of any provision of this section shall not -

(b) during his or her detention smoke until the specimen has been taken, as the case may be.

No person shall refuse that a specimen of blood, or a specimen of breath, be taken of him or her.

Penalties Imposed For Drunk Driving

Section 35: On conviction of certain offences licence and permit shall be suspended for a minimum period and learner’s or driving licence may not be obtained

(1) Subject to subsection (3), every driving licence or every licence and permit of any person convicted of an offence referred to in -

(a) section 61 (1) in the case of death of or serious injury to a person’

(b) section 63 (1) driving recklessly,

(c) section 65 (1), (2) or (5)’

where such person is the holder of a driving licence or a licence and permit, shall be suspended in the case of -

(i) a first offence – for a period of at least six months
(ii) a second offence, for a period of at least five years; or
(ii) a third or subsequent offence, for a period of at least ten years.

For More Information on Drunk Driving also visit:

• Precision Safety Appliances
• Alcohol and Accidents
• Alcohol and Legal Implications
• Alcohol Classification
• Breath Measurement
• Brutal Facts
• Clinical Examination
• Confiscation of Vehicles
• Court Procedure
• Drink and Drive Offences
• Drinking after an Accident
• Drinking and Driving Statistics
• How Much is too Much?
• Medical Legal Facts
• The Blood Test
• The Test/ The Arrest