AA wants lower alcohol limit for drivers
www.iol.co.za

August 13 2008 at 12:52PM

South Africa's current Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0,05 percent should be lowered to 0,02 percent for all drivers, the Automobile Association of South Africa said on Wednesday.

AASA spokesperson Rob Handfield-Jones said the crisis on South Africa's roads demanded this tougher approach.

Drinking and driving could be combated more effectively by reducing the allowable alcohol limits for drivers and courts should impose tougher sentences on drink and drive offenders, he said.

"The AA has conducted numerous research projects into the effects of alcohol on driving. And, without exception, each one has proven that drivers are already significantly impaired at the 0.05 percent limit.

"We are concerned that this limit is inappropriate in South Africa where one is 14 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than in the USA," he said.

The BAC limit for drivers driving under the terms of a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) was 0,02 percent.

"The AA fully agrees with the 0,02 percent limit for professional drivers," said Handfield-Jones.

"This allows some leeway for medications which contain alcohol, but still emphasises that one alcoholic drink puts you over the limit. The mixed message of having a different limit for ordinary drivers is impeding the fight against drunkenness on our roads."

Handfield-Jones said that alcohol was just one of many factors which combined to make a traffic crash more likely.

"The more risk factors we can eliminate from the roads, the safer they'll become," he said.

"Despite numerous efforts over the past ten years, there has not been a wide-scale decline in the social acceptability of drinking and driving, yet over the same period, smokers have gone from being perfectly acceptable to social pariahs.

"The difference is one of political will," he said.

The law provided for a maximum fine of R120 000 or six years in jail but he noted that such a sentence had never been imposed.

If jail terms were handed down for drinking and driving, the public would become more sensitised to the issue.

Handfield-Jones called for greater enforcement of drink and drive laws and for wider use of "evidentiary breath-testing machines".

"Drivers who ensure they are sober will have nothing to fear, but those who drink will then be removed from the roads before they can cause harm," he said. - Sapa

Wanted to post this article published today by independent newspapers, as I wanted to gauge people's opinions on this matter? :scouserd: :)

We all know that "the kuier", the "get-together", the "wine and seafood", the "beer and braai" are all part and parcel of South African life. What are the alternatives here? I do not believe simply lowering the limit is any real solution. For, our lifestyles have brought about this conundrum!

I think the real problem is "lack of alternatives" for most South Africans. I truly believe, if the mechanisms were in place, where standing on a street and hailing a cab was easy, affordable and safe at night, more Saffers would do that rather than "risk" the drive home. If our public transit was more reliable and safe and did not only service the daylight hours, people may also choose that method.

We sit with more than just the drinking driving problem, we sit with the "unsafe at night, no reliable safe public transit, inconvenient and expensive cabs, and lack of willing Designated Drivers," as major hurdles and these also need to be addressed as issues compounding the overall problem. Hopefully all the improvements for 2010 will actually go leaps-and-bounds to help address such problems.

Drinking and Driving is not right and is dangerous, but I've done it several times before and most Saffers if they're honest probably have on occasion as well. I think the solution though needs to be a comprehensive one, not just a quick legislation of blood-count numbers.

I'm sick and tired of people saying (in reference to all issues, not just this one), "This is the problem and we'll legislate to stop it," Yet, do not actually address any underlying causalities or provide alternatives to make things genuinely change for the better.

Bring on public transport... then we can all be pissed as farts together, chucking up on the night bus!:cheers:

I don't understand these restrictions when they allow liquor adds on TV and no smoking ones.It's like saying buy these products(with government approval apparently)but you can't drink it(see above).But smoking(I don't) causes so many accidents and family abuse all advertising must be banned.This country is schizo.

Public transport is the answer I tell you. Until then people will drive and people will drive under the influence I say. I now call summon: BRT!

For once Australia has the answer( allthough I cant stand knowing it ) . Restaurants ask who the designated drivers are and some give free non alcohollic drinks to them and dont serve them alcohol . They sometimes also contact cabs for them. Im not proud to say it but I have driven while over the limit.....because I had no other choice when it came to driving time. Anyway lowering the limit will change nothing . Its not the borderline cases that cause the accidents!

Its not the borderline cases that cause the accidents!
Is'true!!! It's not the people who had a glass of Chardonnay with their sushi that cause the horrific cases of "loss of life."