Drunk driving is among the biggest road safety threats in SouthAfrica.
Are you familiar with the country’s drunk driving laws, penalties, and arrest procedures?
Read on to discover the repercussions of driving under the influence in South Africa.
A person drinking while driving. Photo: pexels.com, @energepic.comSource: UGC
Like many other countries, many South Africans have been shown to drive while intoxicated.
This often results in injuries, deaths, imprisonments, and hefty fines.
What is drunk driving?
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What is the DUI meaning?
The abbreviation stands for drivingunder the influenceand is also known as driving while intoxicated.
What is the alcohol driving limit in South Africa?
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The current maximum BAC allowed by the South African laws is 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres.
The breath alcohol concentration allowed is currently 0.24 grams per 1000 millilitres of blood.
The national government is currently considering amending the law to azero-tolerance one.
Alcohol in glasses. Photo: pexels.com, @Prem Pal Singh TanwarSource: UGC
The proposal has elicited mixed feelings from individuals and civil society groups.
How is a drunk driving test conducted?
“Why isn’t the driver stopping?
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They will fill out a form known as SAP308 and hand it over to the medical practitioner.
If the medical practitioner draws your blood without this form, it will constitute assault.
How is one chosen for a drunk driving test?
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Is drunk driving a criminal offence in South Africa?
Yes, drunk driving is a criminal offence in South Africa.
Yes, you will have a criminal record up that will remain with you for up to 10 years.
A wrecked car. Photo: pexels.com, @Karl SolanoSource: UGC
What happens if you get caught driving drunk?
How long do you go to jail for drunk driving?
you might be imprisoned for up to 6 years or have your driver’s license suspended.
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You could also have topay a finenot less than 2000 ZAR.
Thecourtwill have the discretion to suspend your sentence if you do not drink and drive again.
How do you win a drunk driving case in South Africa?
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Doing this will raise your chances of escaping a prison term and possibly even a criminal record.
What about a drunk driving first offence in South Africa?
Here is a quick look.
How many drunk driving deaths were reported in 2022?
In January 2022, 637 fatal crashes were recorded, accounting for 774 fatalities.
Out of these, The Road Traffic Management Corporationreported thatdrunk driving accounted for 27.1%.
961 offenders were arrested in January alone.
Drunk driving continues to be a menace on South African roads.
The fact that almost a third of all road fatalities come from DUI says a lot about the vice.
The South African government is taking elaborate steps to reduce the accidents resulting from people driving when drunk.
DISCLAIMER:This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances.
Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
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She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle.
Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University.
She has more than five years in writing.
In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024.
Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
