It is estimated that 50% of people who die on South African roads have a blood alcohol concentration level above 0.05g per 100 millimetres, which is the maximum legal blood alcohol limit.
It is a well known fact that it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs.
It is estimated that 50% of people who die on South African roads have a blood alcohol concentration level above 0.05g per 100 millimetres, which is the maximum legal blood alcohol limit.
It is a well known fact that it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs.
“Alcohol affects our vision, judgment, balance and reaction time. Because even one drink can affect you, you should not drink and drive at all,” says Gary Ronald, head of public affairs at the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA).
The AA continues to lobby for legislation that will lower the blood alcohol concentration level to the professional driver limit of 0.02g per 100millimetres, which will limit the legal amount of alcohol consumption to less than one beer.
One in every fifteen drivers on the road at night is over the limit. Morning rush hour bumper bashings are likely as a result of the previous night’s drinking, with the cost of crashes to the economy being calculated at R52 billion per annum.
The fallacy of sobering up quickly by gulping down a quick espresso is just that, a fallacy. Your liver has the task of dissipating the alcohol in your body, which happens at a rate of 0.02mg per hour.
The maximum punishment for drinking and driving is R120 000 and/or six years imprisonment, as well as the suspension of your driving license. Drunk drivers found to be over the limit are arrested, locked up with other criminals until sober and then charged. Evidentiary breathalyser printouts are admissible as evidence in court.
“If you are involved in a crash while you are under the influence, it will impact on your insurance payouts,” said Ronald. If you drive under the influence, short-term insurers, life insurers and the Road Accident Fund can refuse to pay out claims because you have committed an illegal act.
“Drinking and driving should be something that responsible South African drivers see as an absolute abhorration and flagrant disregard for other road users,” concludes Ronald.
