Drunk driving arrests surged over the Easter weekend, putting South Africa’s road safety crisis back in the spotlight. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, nearly 1,000 motorists were arrested during the holiday period. That is a 39% increase compared with last year, eNCA reported.

Authorities also impounded more than 1,000 vehicles during intensified road operations. The increase came as law enforcement stepped up visibility through a three-shift system over the long weekend, according to eNCA.

More policing, but a deeper problem remains

Road safety experts say the higher arrest numbers may reflect stronger enforcement. But they also point to a much bigger problem on South African roads.

Dr Lee-Ann Randall from the Road Ethics Project told eNCA that alcohol remains a major contributor to fatal crashes in the country. She pointed to World Health Organisation figures showing that about 58% of road deaths in South Africa are linked to alcohol. That puts the country among the worst in the world on this measure.

Randall said even small amounts of alcohol can affect a driver’s judgment and reaction time. That raises both the risk of a crash and the severity of one if it happens.

Unsafe vehicles add to the danger

The concern does not stop with drunk driving. Randall also raised concerns about corruption in the roadworthy system, eNCA reported. Some vehicles are allegedly being certified as fit for the road despite serious safety defects.

She said some owners use temporary parts, such as tyres, to pass inspections and then remove them afterwards. Randall added that money pressures and limited transport options can leave people with little choice but to use unsafe vehicles.

South Africa’s road safety crisis needs a wider fix

Randall told eNCA that road safety is a shared responsibility between drivers, authorities and the public. But she warned that low compliance with basic laws, including seatbelt use, continues to put lives at risk.

Infrastructure is also part of the problem. A shortage of pavements, crossings and pedestrian bridges leaves many people exposed on busy roads.

Her warning is blunt: until South Africans demand safer systems and take road safety more seriously, the crisis is unlikely to improve.