The IFP has called on the toughening of legislation so that it will be compulsory to lock away any driver or pedestrian who abuses alcohol.

This the party said in a statement it issued today in reaction to yesterday's statement by the national Minister of Transport, Mr Ben Martin. In his statement, Martin said that according to the Medical Research Council's National Mortality Injury Survey, "between 60% and 75% of all road fatalities, especially at weekends, were a consequence of alcohol abuse by motorists."

IFP Deputy National Spokesperson, Joshua Mazibuko said: "alcohol abuse by motorists and pedestrians alike is a curse that should be faced with the gloves off. If as a country we are seriously committed to making our roads safe for law-abiding citizens, then we must ruthlessly stamp out alcohol abuse.

"Every driver or pedestrian who is found to have abused alcohol must, without exception and without any waste of time, end up behind bars.

If this calls for revisiting the relevant legislation, so be it. We can no longer allow law-abiding citizens to be terrorized by heartless people who abuse alcohol without compunction. In fact the same fate must befall excessive speedsters and reckless drivers."