Zero-tolerance drinking and driving law headed for South Africans
Will South Africans soon be banned from drinking and driving completely?
Plans to reduce South Africa’s current legal drinking and driving limit to zero are underway.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has made her plans to reduce the legal drinking and driving limit clear following an increase in drinking and driving cases.
TopAuto reported on the most recent South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the first quarter of 2026, from April to June.
Statistics showed that there was an increase in driving under the influence cases compared to the previous quarter.
Creecy announced her plans following the release of the 2025/2026 festive season road safety report.
This means that the Department of Transport will amend Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act to ensure there is a clear no-drinking-and-driving law.
“The time has come for us to amend the law, so that we have a clear-cut, easy-to-understand and unambiguous policy that says drinking and driving is not allowed,” she declared.
“So, we will begin an amendment to Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act. If nothing else, we owe this to the memory of the many fellow South Africans who have lost their lives on the roads.”
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport has also called for a permanent driving ban for those caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
“The committee supports the consideration of a total ban on alcohol use on the roads,” said committee chair Donald Selamolela.
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