Change the Thinking - Change the Action!

Petition Demands Explained:

We are slowly loosing the battle for safe clean roads and Drunk Driving has become a norm and standard for most South African drivers. This disgusting cultural disease which are gripping our nation must be eradicated. Below is a breakdown of what we demand from Government and Parliament. Simply said we need the old, outdated acts/laws to be amended and new laws to be written to curb this infestation.

The concerns about road safety and the prevalence of drunk driving in South Africa are indeed pressing issues. The current legal blood alcohol content limit is 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres, and there are proposals to amend this to a zero-tolerance policy, which would prohibit any detectable amount of alcohol in drivers’ blood or breath. Drunk driving is a criminal offense under the National Road Traffic Act, and convictions can lead to severe penalties, including up to six years in jail, fines up to R120,000, and a criminal record that can impact one’s life significantly. It’s clear that the enforcement of these laws, along with public education about the dangers of drunk driving, are crucial steps in combating this challenge. The government’s commitment to revising and strengthening legislation can play a vital role in ensuring safer roads for all.

It is only when we stand up together, when we will be heard!

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Our List of Demands:

🚨 Legislative and Policy Amendments

  1. Zero-Tolerance for All Drivers

    • Amend Section 65(2) to prohibit any measurable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for all drivers — not just professionals.
    • Current limits (0.05g/100ml for general drivers) are too lenient and deadly.

  2. Mandatory Alcohol Testing at Roadblocks

    • Enforce routine breathalyzer and blood tests at all major roadblocks, especially on weekends and holidays.
    • Require real-time data logging to a national traffic safety database.

  3. Immediate License Suspension

    • Allow for on-the-spot license suspension for drivers over the legal limit, pending court review.

  4. Tiered Penalties for Repeat Offenders

    • 1st offense: Fine + license suspension
    • 2nd offense: Mandatory rehab + longer suspension
    • 3rd offense: Permanent license revocation + jail time

  5. Alcohol Ignition Interlocks

    • Mandate breath-activated ignition locks in vehicles of convicted drunk drivers for at least 12 months.

🧠 Education and Prevention

  1. National Awareness Campaign

    • Launch a year-round multimedia campaign targeting youth, rural areas, and high-risk groups.
    • Include real-life stories from victims and offenders.

  2. Driver’s License Curriculum Reform

    • Add mandatory modules on impaired driving to learner’s license and defensive driving courses.

  3. School and Community Outreach

    • Partner with NGOs and schools to deliver peer-led workshops on alcohol, responsibility, and road safety.

👮 Enforcement and Accountability

  1. Specialized DUI Enforcement Units

    • Create and fund dedicated anti-drunk-driving units in every province.

  2. Public Offender Registry

  • Publish a national registry of repeat DUI offenders to deter future violations.
  1. Dashcam and Bodycam Integration
  • Equip traffic officers with cameras to ensure transparency and evidence collection.
  1. Proper Officer Training
  • Train officers to identify drunk drivers and use breathalyzers effectively.
  • Reinforce the importance of the SAP 308(a) form when requesting blood samples from injured suspects.

🧪 Testing and Evidence Reform

  1. Faster Blood Test Processing
  • Use independent labs to reduce the current 6-month delay in blood test results.
  1. Non-Consensual Blood Samples for Injured Drivers
  • Allow blood samples to be taken without consent if a drunk driver is injured or airlifted from the scene.
  1. Extend the BAC Testing Window
  • Extend the 2-hour evidentiary window to 4–6 hours. Alcohol in the bloodstream after 4 hours is still valid evidence.

📜 Legal and Judicial Reform

  1. Fast-Track DUI Courts
  • Establish specialized courts to speed up DUI cases and reduce backlog.
  1. Mandatory Rehabilitation
  • Require all convicted offenders to complete certified alcohol education or rehab before license reinstatement.
  1. Victim Compensation Fund
  • Create a state-managed fund for victims of drunk driving, financed by DUI fines and levies.
  1. Charge DUI Crashes as Violent Crimes
  • If a drunk driver causes a crash involving another vehicle, charge them with assault with a deadly weapon or attempted murder — not just DUI.
  1. No Preferential Treatment for First-Time Offenders
  • Every offense must be treated with the seriousness it deserves.

🍻 Accountability for Liquor Establishments

  1. Penalize Negligent Liquor Vendors
  • If a venue overserves a patron who intends to drive and doesn’t arrange alternative transport, they should be charged with:
    • Negligence
    • Aiding and abetting a drunk driver
    • Vehicular homicide (if a fatality occurs)
  1. Mandatory Intervention
  • If a patron refuses alternative transport, the venue must confiscate their keys and call the police.
  1. Severe Penalties for Non-Compliance
  • Guilty establishments should face jail time, heavy fines, or liquor license revocation.

⚖️ Penalties That Fit the Crime

  • DUI Arrest: R120,000 fine or 6 years imprisonment + 10-year criminal record
  • DUI Crash: R240,000 fine or 12 years imprisonment + 20-year record
  • DUI Fatality: R1 million fine or life imprisonment + 50-year record
  • Corrupt Officers: Same penalties as convicted drunk drivers

✊ Join the Movement

We are tired of burying loved ones. We are tired of empty promises. We demand action — now.

 

    Please Sign out Petition