The dangerous driving habit South Africans fall into every December

The festive season is upon us, and while it is the time of year to celebrate and have fun with friends and family, many South Africans fall into a dangerous habit of driving while under the influence.

People have a tendency to drink more over the holidays, which means there is a greater chance of people taking chances by driving home after they’ve had one too many.

Driving under the influence, also known as a DUI, is one of the most serious driving offences a person can commit, accounting for more than half of all road fatalities in South Africa.

During the 2024/2025 festive season, a total of 9,984 people were arrested for drinking and driving.

According to MasterDrive, an average of 58% of all road deaths in South Africa involve alcohol.

“This is one of the highest averages globally. To place this in context, 28% of crashes in USA involve alcohol, 18% in Australia, 13% in the UK while only 9% of crashes in Germany involve alcohol,” it said.

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, argued that the country needs a collective commitment to change its attitudes towards drunk driving, particularly over the holidays.

“The start of the festive season often means with an uptick in driving under the influence. Matric vacations, end-of-year functions and a general tendency to drink more over the Festive Season results in tragic consequences for all road users.”

Herbert said that DUI deaths are preventable and that all citizens have a role to play in reducing the number of road fatalities, highlighting three instances where changing attitudes and behaviours can have a positive outcome.

What needs to change

The first case involves matric vacations, as teenagers graduating high school often go away to “rage” parties in holiday towns like Plettenberg Bay to celebrate the end of their final exams.

Herbert urged parents to educate their children on the dangers of drunk driving, especially since matric graduates tend to drink heavily at these events.

“Make sure they have alternatives to get home safely whether they plan to drink or not,” he said.

“Discuss specific scenarios: what will they do if the designated driver drinks? Who can they call if they need help getting home? Encourage them to establish a group agreement before leaving, where friends hold each other accountable.”

He also advised parents to always be available for their children to discourage them from taking unnecessary risks.

“Ensure your teen knows they can call you for a ride home – no matter the scenario – rather than get in a car with an impaired driver.”

“Open, honest conversations about drink driving can equip them to make safe choices when it matters most.”

Another scenario concerns end-of-year work functions, where people also tend to drink excessively.

“Ideally, corporate events should avoid serving alcohol,” he said.

“If alcohol is available, the responsibility is on the organisation to ensure that employees get home safely with the many options available today, whether ridesharing or shuttle services.

The event should limit the duration of the alcohol service to allow for attendees to recover, and the company should intervene if a person shows signs of intoxication when attempting to leave.

Ideally, leadership should act as responsible role models and moderate their consumption.

“Clearly communicate alcohol policies before the event. Create a culture where you look out for employees to prevent tragedy and make employee safety a top priority.”

Lastly, it’s important to apply these same principles to other types of social gatherings, from Christmas functions to New Year’s events.

Individuals should hold themselves and others accountable for their drinking behaviour.

Even if you are not drinking, don’t allow yourself to get into a car with a driver who has been drinking, even if this means confronting a friend or family member.