Before a taxi driver takes a trip, they must do a breathalyser test, which will be linked to the vehicle. Picture: Moneyweb A total ban on any drinking and driving is coming for South African motorists while breathalysers are to be installed in taxi vehicles that will prevent drivers who have been drinking from operating the vehicle. South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) President Abnar Tsebe said on Thursday the breathalysers are to be installed in taxi vehicles “immediately”, with the focus on long distance taxis “for now”, especially ahead of the Easter holidays.
Speaking at a briefing on the 2025/26 festive season road safety performance, Tsebe said before a taxi driver takes a trip, they must do “a breathalyser”, which will be linked to the vehicle. If it shows the driver has been drinking alcohol, the vehicle will not start. Tsebe said drivers must do another breathalyser test after driving a certain number of kilometres and there are camera systems in vehicles “so we are able to monitor that they are doing the right thing”.
He said it will take a lengthy period to install breathalysers in all taxi vehicles but Santaco will be starting at the taxi ranks with its marshalls in collaboration with its taxi associations. Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said preliminary data indicates a 5% reduction in fatalities and accidents during the latest festive season compared to the same period the previous year. She said 1 427 fatalities were recorded from 1 172 road accidents in the 2025/26 festive season, with the data showing the season recorded the lowest number of accidents in five years, and the same number of fatalities as in the 2023/24 festive season.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
[paywall]
Creecy said the number of deaths caused by road accidents is nonetheless “a reason for national shame”. “Analysis of reported crashes throughout the year confirms that human behaviour, and particularly reckless driver behaviour, remains the leading cause of road trauma, with speeding and drunk-driving a major cause of road accidents.”
[/paywall]
