fb
AA Vehicle Rates Calculator

Rates Calculator

Roadside Assistance

Roadside Assistance

Emergency Services

Emergency Services

AA Auto Centre

AA Auto Centre

AA Financial Services

AA Financial Services

AA Travel

AA Travel

Call me backCALL ME BACK

I need help choosing a product

"*" indicates required fields

*
MOBILE NUMBER *
PLEASE SELECT A PRODUCT

Enforcement and education key to changing behaviour

Changing traffic laws relating to drunk driving is meaningless and will be ineffective if current laws that regulate alcohol and driving are not properly implemented and enforced first. This is the view of the Automobile Association (AA) following the announcement tonight by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on the proposed changes to the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for drivers to be reduced to zero percent.

The Association says drinking and driving can be more effectively combated by reducing the allowable alcohol limits for drivers, and that the courts should impose tougher sentences on offenders. The current enforcement of drunk drivers will not stop those who regularly exceed the limits because there are simply no consequences for their actions. The AA says a zero BAC limit is not going to change this behaviour.

Although South Africa’s current Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05% is not out of line with world standards, the crisis on South Africa’s roads demands a tougher approach. The AA is proposing that the 0.05% limit be reduced to 0.02% which is in place in many countries.

The AA notes that the proposed move to reduce the legal limit to zero does not take into consideration the fact that some medications such as cough syrups may contain alcohol. In these cases drivers may find themselves with criminal records for taking one dose of this medication when it will have no material effect on their driving ability.

“Reducing the blood alcohol limit to zero will not solve the problem of road deaths in South Africa if it is not supported by a thorough, scientific diagnosis of the problem of drink driving with proper statistics which back such a move. Behavioural change is needed to solve this problem and that requires proper enforcement of existing laws, and more intensive education of the dangers of drunk driving, both of which do not currently occur,” says the AA.

The AA says current analyses of drunk driving in South Africa are fragmented and disparate, with no conclusive findings besides those which call for greater research on the matter, a move the AA supports.

“But we cannot have a situation where the government is guessing to what extent alcohol is a contributor of road deaths with no actual plan to deal with the road safety crisis in South Africa as a whole other than to amend the law. This approach amounts to dealing with the issue of drunk driving without first addressing the issue of current enforcement and lack of education,” says the Association.

“It is our view that people who drink and drive will not alter their behaviour because there are no consequences so they’re willing to take that gamble of being caught. Ensuring proper law enforcement should be the first step before amending laws. If law enforcement doesn’t change how it operates now, how will changing the law make a difference?” asks the AA.

The AA says apart from these concerns, the overall safety of roads in South Africa should enjoy priority before amendments such as these are made.

“Pedestrian safety remains a huge concern but little is being to deal with this problem. Road safety requires a total approach which deals with vehicle safety, pedestrian safety, and more education on road safety,” the AA says.

The AA says it stands by its support of the wide-ranging proposals by the Traffic Law Enforcement Review Committee last year to improve traffic law enforcement in the country. It says implementing these recommendations and not focusing on one element of road safety such as drunk driving is needed to deal more effectively with the country’s annual road fatalities which it says amount to a national disaster every year.

“There are practical, workable plans on the table to improve traffic law enforcement which were compiled by experts and traffic officers themselves. Yet there are those who seem intent on focusing on one aspect of road safety – drunk driving – as a panacea for road fatalities. It is, in effect, putting a band aid on a gaping wound with the hope that it will stop the flow of blood. It won’t,” concludes the AA.

Tools & Calculators
What is your Emergency?
The Automobile Association of South Africa

For over 90 years, we’ve provided you with roadside rescue and security, so you know you can rely on the Automobile Association day and night.

We aim to empower you as a road user and add value to your life with our products and services.

AA Responds to Fuel Levy Increase: Calls for Transparency and Structural Reform

The Automobile Association (AA) notes the announcement by the Minister of Finance to increase the General Fuel Levy (GFL) by 16 cents per litre for petrol and 15 cents per litre for diesel, effective 4 June 2025. The Minister described this adjustment—the first in three years—as the sole new tax proposal for the 2025/26 fiscal year, citing inflationary pressures as the reason for the hike. While acknowledging the government’s fiscal constraints, the AA warns that this increase will have...

LOSS OF R313 MILLION TRANSPORT GRANT A BLOW TO ROAD USERS, LOW-INCOME COMMUTERS, AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE – AA

The Automobile Association (AA) is concerned about the City of Johannesburg's forfeiture of a R313 million public transport grant due to ongoing operational failures within the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. This is a significant setback for the city's transport infrastructure and highlights the deepening structural and governance challenges in managing Johannesburg's public transport systems. Originally earmarked to support and expand the Rea Vaya network, the lost funding carries...

Collaborative Action Turns the Tide on Road Fatalities

Easter 2025 Road Safety Gains Welcomed - AA The Automobile Association (AA) welcomes the significant reduction in vehicle collisions and fatalities recorded over the Easter 2025 period. These positive outcomes underscore the effectiveness of early planning, consistent law enforcement, and strong partnerships in saving lives on South African roads. According to official statistics, road crashes decreased by 32.5% while fatalities declined by 45.6% compared to Easter 2024 – making the lowest...