Over 2,719 drunk drivers arrested as the Road Traffic Management Corporation and AWARE.org launch zero-tolerance drunk-driving campaign

Traffic authorities arrested a total of 2,719 drivers nationally in recent operations aimed at curbing festive-season road carnage, an 8.7% increase compared with the same period last year. Drunken driving arrests surged to 1,478, with the highest numbers recorded in the Northern Cape, North West, and Eastern Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Free State, and Mpumalanga.

These numbers not only highlight the scale of drunk driving, they also demonstrate the strengthening of law enforcement efforts across the country. Officers are increasingly visible, increasingly coordinated, and increasingly uncompromising, sending a clear message that if you break the law, you will be caught.

The arrests signal a sobering start to what has historically been South Africa's deadliest travel period. During the 2024/25 festive season, nearly 10,000 motorists were arrested for drunk driving, while 1,589 fatalities occurred across 1,286 fatal crashes between 1 December 2024 and 11 January 2025.

AWARE.org, the Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education, backed by major alcohol producers, distributors, and retailers is responding to this crisis through its #Shiy’imoto campaign. The campaign urges motorists to “leave the car behind” when consuming alcohol. The campaign intensifies as South Africa heads into three high-risk long weekends: 16 December, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

“This moment presents the opportunity to turn things around. The people behind these quoted numbers are more than statistics; they are parents, children, friends, and community members whose lives matter. With three busy public holidays ahead, we are calling on all South Africans to make a simple choice: park your car, save a life. Use e-hailing services, appoint a sober driver, or stay the night. These decisions prevent harm,” says AWARE.org CEO Mokebe Thulo.

A crisis demanding urgent action

The RTMC estimates that approximately 27% of all road deaths are directly linked to impaired driving.

This sharp rise in arrests shows that enforcement authorities are taking an increasingly firm stance. It is a reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility: when enforcement tightens and communities act together, lives can be saved. We truly are all in it to win it.

Gauteng's 152 arrests, as recorded from 1-13 December 2025 place the province at the centre of the national drunk-driving crisis – whilst not at the top of offending regions. MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela launched the Gauteng Festive Season Road Safety Campaign on 4 December, pledging a coordinated enforcement strategy across the province.

“We are deploying every resource at our disposal to protect road users during this high-risk period,” said MEC Diale-Tlabela.

“Our officers will conduct intensive roadblocks, breathalyser tests, and speed enforcement operations on major routes including the N1, N3, and N4. We will not tolerate reckless behaviour that puts innocent lives at risk.

Metro police chiefs warn of intensified crackdowns

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson, Xolani Fihla confirmed that metro police will be escalating operations across major routes.

“JMPD officers will be stationed at strategic points throughout Johannesburg, conducting 24/7 roadblocks and breathalyser testing. We are coordinating closely with provincial authorities and campaigns like #Shiy'imoto to ensure a unified front against drunk driving. The message is clear: if you drink and drive in Johannesburg, you will be caught, and you will face the full force of the law,” says Fihla.

In the Eastern Cape, where 233 drunk drivers were arrested from 1-13 December, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police Chief Advocate Andrew Moses emphasises the province’s commitment to reducing road deaths.

“We are intensifying patrols and conducting Evidentiary Breath Alcohol Testing (eBAT) and impounding vehicles where necessary. We are aligned with AWARE.org's #Shiy’imoto initiative to reduce harm and keep our roads safe.”

Faster arrests with eBAT

Authorities are increasingly relying on eBAT machines, which provide immediate, court-admissible results at the roadside, significantly speeding up drunk-driving cases.

“A major part of our challenge every December is the time it takes to process drunk-driving cases,” says Thulo. “eBAT allows officers to test, charge, and remove offenders on the spot. Faster processing means fewer drunk drivers stay on the road, and fewer families receive devastating phone calls.”

Notable high-risk cases

Speeding incidents included 183km/h in Limpopo, 193km/h in Gauteng, and 184km/h in KZN, exceeding limits by up to 73km/h. High alcohol readings included 2.38mg/1000ml in Dutywa (EC), 2.37mg/1000ml in Lethlabile (NW), and 2.18mg/1000ml in Molefe Makinta (NW).

AWARE.org calls for personal responsibility

Behind every statistic is a family whose life has been changed forever. During the 2024/25 festive season, 87% of fatal crashes were attributed to human behaviour, including drunk driving, speeding, and reckless overtaking.

AWARE.org is calling on all South Africans to take practical steps to reduce the death toll on the country's roads:

• Plan transport before going out
• Use e-hailing services
• Appoint a trusted sober driver
• Look out for friends and family who may be at risk
• Never mix alcohol with long-distance or any other driving

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“The greatest reward this December is not the celebration,” Thulo concludes. “It is getting home safely. #Shiy'imoto is about ensuring that every South African can do exactly that.”