New bill proposes 0% drink-drive limit
A new proposal to impose a 0% drink-drive limit in South Africa has been put forward by the national Department of Transport.
South Africa could lower its drink-drive limit to 0% if a new bill is passedIt is just one of the suggested changes detailed in the Draft National Road Traffic Amendment Bill that was published last week for public comment.
The proposal is: “No person shall on a public road (a) drive a vehicle, or (b) occupy the driver’s seat of a motor vehicle, the engine of which is running, while there is a concentration of alcohol in any specimen of blood taken form any part of his or her body.”
Part of the new law reads: “Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs having a narcotic effect (is) prohibited.”
As the law currently stands, drivers are permitted to have up to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml blood, or 20mg per 100ml for professional drivers.
The South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD) welcomed the proposal, as it would be easier for drivers to understand, but warned further action was needed to support the motion if granted.
“Merely changing the level to zero will not mean people will stop drink driving,” said Caro Smit, founder and director of SADD, as reported by the Independent Online.
“A zero level must be followed through with rigorous enforcement, that is, frequent random testing, good paperwork that stands up in court, and swift court appearances.”
Criminalising innocent drivers
However, the Justice Project SA expressed concerns that a zero-tolerance policy might criminalise innocent motorists.
“It would be a good thing to remove any doubt in people’s minds as to what the so-called limit is, but there are numerous problems,” said Howard Dembovsky, Justice Project SA chairman.
“It’s a medical fact that some people will produce false-positive readings of both blood and breath samples, and therefore, having a zero limit before criminalising people is unwise.
“For example, eating fruit can produce naturally occurring blood alcohol levels, albeit that they would be low. Similarly, diabetics are at risk of false arrest as hypoglycaemia causes acetone on the breath.”
Members of the public have until 27 February to comment on the draft bill, which must also go through the parliamentary process.
On Monday, UK road minister Robert Goodwill confirmed the government will not lower the drink-drive limit in England.
