COSATU wants Parliament to reconsider proposal for zero tolerance on drunk driving

CAPE TOWN - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) wants the seventh Parliament to reconsider a proposal for zero tolerance on drunk driving.

The previous Parliament removed this clause from the final National Road Traffic Amendment Bill - which President Cyril Ramaphosa made law in December.

The law aims to tighten road safety by regulating driving schools and issuing learner driver's licences.

But COSATU says it should also have banned alcohol consumption for drivers.

For four years, the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill moved through the parliamentary process including several rounds of public participation.

But in the end, a controversial clause to reduce the drunk driving limit from 0.05% alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood to 0% did not find favour.

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With 40% of South Africa’s road accidents said to be related to alcohol consumption, COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks says the current permissible level is insufficient to reduce the carnage.

"While supporting this progressive amendment act, COSATU is deeply disappointed that the sixth Parliament shamefully deleted a badly needed clause providing for a total ban or at least a reduction in the permissible alcohol level in drivers’ blood."

COSATU now wants the zero-tolerance clause to be reinserted into the act.

"We should not continue to normalise over-consumption and the abuse of alcohol that sends thousands to their deaths every year."

The new law will require all driving schools to be graded and registered.

Driving licence and vehicle examiners can have their registration suspended if they have a conflict of interest or are convicted of a crime.