In South Africa, drinking and driving have become much more prevalent, increasing road accidents. Research indicates that 50% of people who die on the roads have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres.
It has also caused many people to sit behind bars and get criminal records. According to section 65 of the National Rod Traffic Act 93 of 1996, no one shall drive or even occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle on a public road if they exceed the legal limit of more than 0.05 grams per 100 ml. Caught driving over the legal limit can get you up to six years in prison.
How drinking affects your driving:
- Alcohol is a depressant which can make you drowsy, causing you to fall asleep at the wheel.
- Alcohol causes slurred speech and blurred vision, which might be hazardous when driving. Studies show that drunk drivers tend to focus on a single point for a long time and are thus less aware of crucial peripheral areas.
- Another thing that alcohol affects in your body is the brain, particularly your judgement. This reduces your ability to think clearly, reason, plan, and make sound decisions.
- Alcohol impairs your ability to concentrate, and driving requires you to focus on many tasks at once, such as your vehicle position, speed, and other cars on the road. Many car accidents result from a drunk driver who is distracted or who has a short attention span.
- Alcohol can affect both your fine motor skills and gross motor skills, whether it involves putting the key in the ignition or walking to your vehicle. This can be very dangerous when driving because it can affect your reaction time should something happen out of nowhere.
- Reacting on time when a situation changes on the road is very important as it can prevent an accident. Studies show that drivers under the influence of alcohol cannot respond to stimuli as quickly as when sober. A slow reaction time may result in accidents and collisions that can cause severe injuries and even fatalities.
What are the Charges for Drunk Driving?
The South African Police Service has a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving and is working on increasing the presence of traffic officers and roadblocks, especially during the Festive Season. Therefore, ensuring you stay on the right side of the law this December is essential. If you offend for the first time, you can be charged a R2000 fine and have your licence suspended for 2 months, and if you have prior charges, you can get a fine as high as R120 000, depending on how bad your last offence was. You can even get jailed for up to six years and get a criminal record for a period of ten years.
If you are planning to drink some alcohol this Festive Season, make sure you do not get behind the wheel. Your safety and other’s people’s safety are very imperative. If you are going out partying, have a trusted and sober friend to transport you or get an uber. Consider even drinking at home, so you do not have to drive after. We must do all we can to ensure we all enjoy a happy and safe Festive Season.
