Cape Town motorists caught talking or sending text messages on their cellphones would be fined R5 000 and have their phone confiscated for a day, it was reported on Monday.
The Cape Times reported that the new bylaw, in effect from Monday, formed part of the provincial road safety campaign to cut road deaths in half by 2014.
Safety and security mayoral committee member JP Smith said Cape Town was the only city where the road death toll was decreasing steadily, from 1 739 deaths in 2008 to 1 321 in 2011.
Confiscated cellphones could be collected at the Gallow Hills Traffic Department in Green Point after 24 hours. Motorists would have to show their identity documents.
According to the report, phones would be sealed in a box and people given a serial number. — Sapa
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