Alcohol and roads don't mix

As we approach the festive season, we’ll hear jingle bells wherever we may go. This is also the season to be mindful and wise when it comes alcohol consumption. As we all know, alcohol and road don’t mix, and it is up to you to make the responsible choices about drinking.

The safest option is not to drink if you plan to drive or walk near traffic. Crashes involving drivers and pedestrians under the influence are no accident. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests on the bodies of people killed in road crashes show that, whether you are a pedestrian or a driver, your risk of dying in a road crash is higher if you have been drinking. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) estimated the cost of alcohol-related destruction of road infrastructure and other vehicles in 2009 to be R7.9 bn. That is a significant amount of money that could have been used more productively.

Drinking and driving indirectly undermines the fight against crime. The more drinking and driving there is, the more valuable police resources, prosecution resources, and court time are taken away from fighting other kinds of crime. Our traffic officers have already started their RBT (Random Breath Testing) campaign and will be visible on the road this festive season. Be safe and remember alcohol and road do not mix.

#BoozeFreeRoads

#BeSafe