Transport minister Fikile Mbalula says that his department is working on a number of regulatory changes to improve the safety of South Africa’s roads.
In a media briefing on Tuesday , Mbalula said this includes amendments to the National Road Traffic Act to reduce the permissible alcohol limit for motorists, which is currently being considered by parliament.. Under current regulations, legal blood alcohol content limit for drivers from 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres to 0.00g/100ml, and the breath alcohol concentration from 0.24g/1,000ml also to zero.
“We have begun the process to amend our National Road Traffic regulations in order to regulate Professional Driving Permits both within South Africa, SADC, common market for Eastern and Southern Africa and East African Community.”which declared the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act and Aarto Amendment Act unconstitutional., which would include the official introduction of the new traffic demerit system.
“The importance of Aarto in driving behaviour change of motorist and providing disincentives for unbecoming conduct cannot be overemphasised. It is for these reasons that we have decided to appeal the ruling of the Pretoria High Court declaring the Aarto Act unconstitutional and invalid.”Mbalula’s comments come after South Africa reported a total of 1,685 fatalities over the 2021/2022 festive period – a 14% increase compared to last year.
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