What’s it gonna be – something crime related, sexual assault, corruption, spare us the suspense and cut to the chase…

So it’s hard to believe that in this day and age, given the efficiency of services like Uber, that South Africans are still driving on our roads after one too many.

We are unfortunately, and we’re doing it in such great numbers that we actually top the list of drunk-driving related deaths in the world. That’s according to the World Health Organisation. with 58% of the deaths on our road alcohol-related. Here’s Wheels24 with some other sobering statistics:

According to the report, you have a 26.6% chance of dying in a road crash in Africa. The second most dangerous region on the WHO’s list is the Eastern Mediterranean – 19.9% chance of being killed on the road.

According to the WHO: “South Africa remains one of the more dangerous countries for road safety, with 25.1 deaths per 100 000 population. The report noted however, that there has been a steady improvement in danger levels since a peak of 33 deaths per 100 000 people, recorded in 2006.”

Apart from alcohol abuse, the major causes for fatal road deaths are speeding, not wearing seatbelts, lack of child restraints and no helmets for motorcyclists…

The Global Status Report of the WHO states that while South Africa has national laws to combat drunk driving, the country scored a low 4 out of 10 in its capacity to enforce them, the speed limit enforcement scored 3 out of 10, and seat-belt laws scored even worse in terms of enforcement: 2 out of 10.

Let’s do better this festive season and play by the rules – anything more than 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100mm and you’re being a real party pooper.

[source:wheels24]