As we continue to commemorate Transport Month, we discuss one of the major causes of road fatalities in the country: driving under the influence of alcohol. In South Africa, 5.5% of road incidents in South Africa are directly caused by drinking and driving. The United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety has set a target of reducing drinking and driving incidents by 50% by 2030. Our next guests have formed a partnership to redouble their efforts in achieving this target through road safety initiatives.

Over the course of the second quarter of 2024, more than 4 000 roadblocks were held and resulted in over 4 800 arrests. We ask our panel today: Are road safety initiatives doing enough to turn the tide on fatalities and build more responsible drivers? What trends are law enforcement noticing at accident scenes involving alcohol-related collisions? What do parents need to teach their young adults about responsible driving practices? How can substance abuse issues be addressed through demerit systems to stop habitual offenders? 

Guest (Studio): Lebogang Mashigo - Senior Programmes Manager at Aware.org

Guest (Telephone): Xolani Fihla - Spokesperson at the JMPD

Guest (Zoom): Magda Reynolds - National Business & Development Manager at NICRO