South Africa could soon introduce a zero-tolerance alcohol policy for drivers, making it illegal to drink any amount of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says the current law is outdated. “In today’s South Africa, it is totally unacceptable that there is a law that allows people to drink and then drive,” she said. If the amendment passes, any detectable alcohol in a driver’s system would be illegal, whether you’re behind the wheel professionally or personally.
What the Law Currently Allows
Right now, drivers have some leeway:
- General drivers: up to 0.05g/100ml blood alcohol
- Professional drivers: up to 0.02g/100ml
Under the proposed amendment, those limits would disappear completely.
Why the Change Is Being Pushed
The move follows the release of the 2025/26 Festive Season Road Safety Report, covering 1 December 2025 to 11 January 2026. The numbers show alcohol remains a major concern on South African roads:
- 173,695 drivers were tested for alcohol
- 8,561 tested positive—a 144% increase from last year
Despite the rise in alcohol-related tests, road safety outcomes showed improvement.
Fewer Crashes, But Alcohol Still a Concern
The festive season report also highlighted:
- 1,172 crashes resulting in 1,427 fatalities (a 5% drop from last year)
- 1,632 roadblocks set up
- 1.8 million vehicles stopped
- Over 450,000 fines issued
- 525 arrests for excessive speeding
Nationally, road deaths are trending down. Preliminary data for 2025 shows:
- 11,418 fatalities from 9,674 crashes, down from 12,581 deaths in 2021
- Crashes decreased by 6.4%
- Fatalities dropped by 6.2%
The government says adopting a zero-alcohol driving law would be part of a wider effort to further reduce deaths on South Africa’s roads.
Source: SAnews.gov.za
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