Transport Dept wants to tighten country’s drunk driving laws

The Transport Department wants to tighten the country’s drunk driving laws by introducing a policy that prevents “any form” of drinking and driving.

The current legal drinking limit is less than zero point zero five grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, which roughly translates to about one glass of beer.

On Thursday, the department released the 2025/2026 festive season road statistics, which showed over 8600 people were arrested for driving under the influence during this period.

This represented a 144 per cent increase when compared to the previous period.

Transport minister Barbara Creecy says the country’s high number of road fatalities can be attributed to reckless driver behaviour.

“That is why we are introducing a new measure to prevent any form of drinking and driving because all scientific evidence indicates that alcohol intake diminishes concentration,” Creecy added.

ALSO READ:1,427 people died on the roads during festive season