South Africa may soon introduce a full ban on drinking and driving, as the government takes steps to reduce deaths on the country’s roads. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport has supported Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s plan to change the law and wants it in place before the Easter holidays.
Right now, South African drivers are allowed to drive with a small amount of alcohol in their system. But after a very deadly festive season, the minister says this rule needs to change. Too many people are still losing their lives because of drunk driving.
During the recent holiday period, police tested more than 173,000 drivers for alcohol. Over 8,500 of them tested positive and were arrested. This was a big increase compared to last year and shows that drunk driving remains a serious problem.
Minister Creecy said the current law was written many years ago and is no longer applicable. She said it is wrong to allow any level of drinking before driving, especially when families are grieving the loss of loved ones in road crashes. She believes that the message should be straightforward and unambiguous: if you consume alcohol, you should refrain from driving.
To make this change, the Department of Transport plans to update the National Road Traffic Act and bring in a zero-tolerance rule for alcohol and driving. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport agrees with this move. The committee pointed out that more than 1,400 people died on the roads during the festive season alone. Donald Selamolela, the committee’s chairperson, cautioned that in the absence of immediate action, the busy Easter travel period could result in even more casualties.
The committee also wants stricter punishment for drivers who break the law. This could include heavy fines or even losing their driving licences. More police officers on the roads were also suggested to improve law enforcement. Trade union federation COSATU has also welcomed the plan, saying alcohol plays a role in many road deaths each year. While responsible drinking is possible, it said road safety must always come first.
