New strategies to combat drunk driving required
According to the Automobile Association of South Africa, new strategies to combat drunk driving are required, stating that,
“The current strategy has not yielded results.”
The AA further went on to say that the Department of Transport can no longer rely on the gradual shift in social attitudes to combat drunk driving. Explaining that it does not happen fast enough to prevent a substantial number of road deaths.
“Despite changes in social attitudes, the rate of positive tests for alcohol in people killed in traffic crashes rose sharply in the first decade of the new millennium,”
the AA commented.
“This suggests that many road users are escaping both the enforcement and messaging nets when it comes to alcohol.”
One of the potential contributors to this problem, was licensing corruption. A driver who has bought or forged their license, has already started their driving career in an unlawful way. Resulting in drivers being less likely to understand their legal responsibilities when on the roads. They may also not be fully aware of the risks involved while driving under the influence.
This combined with the inadequate level of law enforcement to combat drunk driving at the scale required, shows that we as a country need a new approach to the problem. Around 3000 cases of drunk driving are opened each month, from a driving population estimated to be around 9 million.
“The enforcement rate for alcohol is very low in comparison to the driving population and known rates of alcohol use by road users,”
the AA said. Adding that,
“A nationwide strategy for enforcement is needed, and every major roadblock should routinely include secondary roadblocks on surrounding ‘back roads’ which drivers may use for avoidance.”
The AA believe that another big part of the problem is the lack of detailed data available. An example being drinking rates by age group, in which no meaningful data exists from the year 2000 onwards. The AA strongly urge that more detailed reports are gathered. These could be captured through offence rate surveys and would greatly help combat drunk driving.
South Africa is also an incredibly diverse country, so the effectiveness of the messaging used to combat drunk driving is unclear. The AA‘s main concern was,
“whether all South Africans have access to information on alcohol and traffic in a form they can both understand and use,” further adding,
“Pedestrians in particular have a history of high rates of alcohol use, and further efforts must be made to reach this group.”
Addressing these problems of licensing corruption, enforcement, data capturing and effective messaging to better combat drunk driving is not beyond the financial ability of the government. What’s needed is a decisive plan with a focus on these main areas in order to achieve results.