Drinking and driving don’t mix – AA
The AA urges anyone who is going to be drinking to consider take-me-home services before getting behind the wheel themselves.
At the close of each year, many companies across South Africa host end-of-year functions for their staff. While these are festive, celebratory occasions, the Automobile Association (AA) urges motorists to remember that consuming alcohol and driving do not mix, and that alternatives are available to drivers who want to drink at such events.
Figures published by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) reveal the most fatalities on South African roads occur on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 17:00 and 22:00. The AA states these periods are significant and clearly coincide with times of increased drinking, when the risk of an accident is higher.
The AA states it has become somewhat of a ritual to warn motorists of the dangers of drinking and driving. Unfortunately, the message appears to fall on deaf ears as many still insist on drinking and driving, not only endangering their lives, but those of other road users.
The AA notes that traffic authorities around the country have been clear that they are increasing their activities and that more checks and roadblocks are being enforced.
According to the AA, there really is no excuse for driving under the influence of alcohol. There are many take-me-home services available, including the AA Designated Driver option (www.aa.co.za), which is reliable, affordable and safe.
The AA urges anyone who is going to be drinking to consider these options before getting behind the wheel themselves. Companies hosting year-end functions must also take responsibility and not allow workers who have been drinking to drive home, the AA advises.
Apart from this, the AA says while efforts to deal with drunk drivers is being stepped up across the country, more needs to be done. It notes there are approximately nine million drivers in South Africa but that only 3000 cases of drunk driving are opened monthly, less than 0,5% of all drivers. With the known rates of alcohol use in South Africa, this indicates that the enforcement rate is particularly low and that a fresh approach to combatting drinking and driving is needed.
In addition, those caught for driving under the influence must face the harshest possible penalties as the AA believe a message needs to be sent to all South Africans that this type of reckless behaviour will not be tolerated.
