Thousands of South African motorist blatantly flout the law by driving under the influence of alcohol each year. Their disregard for safety places a tremendous burden on the country’s emergency services and leads to untold misery through death and the destruction of private property. The Medical Research Council of South Africa compiled a report documenting the number of people killed in road accidents, whose blood alcohol exceeded the given limitations.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a criminal offence in South Africa. Convicted drivers face jail sentences of between six months and six years, and fines of up to R120 000. The Department of Transport’s Arrive Alive website contains some interesting snippets of information. They say a prosecution on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) can succeed in the absence of a breath or blood test, provided a competent and knowledgeable officer on drunken driving cases is available as witness. They also say the Constitution is not grounds to refuse for your blood to be drawn and that both police and traffic officers can request nurses or doctors to draw blood.

Be prepared and rather keep your breathalyser on hand, test yourself and know your limits. Don’t be another statistic. Don’t drink and drive.