This Payday weekend if you drink, do not drive, because the cops will be waiting

23 October 2026

For immediate release

This Payday weekend if you drink, do not drive, because the cops will be waiting

Alcohol is linked to more than a quarter of fatal crashes. #MISA urges workers not to gamble their pay, their licence or their lives this weekend.

As workers receive their October salaries, the Motor Industry Staff Association (#MISA) warns that payday weekends are among the most dangerous times on South Africa’s roads, and that law enforcement will be out in full force. With the 25th falling on a Sunday, many workers will be paid today. In a recent interview with #MISAtv, Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), said drunk driving gets worse over weekends and long weekends, and is increasingly seen even on Mondays and Tuesdays.

“More than 27% of fatal crashes are due to alcohol, so it is an issue that requires constant attention,” said Zwane. “It’s an issue we have to drive every day.”

The numbers are stark. Close to 12 000 people die on South African roads every year, and more than half of them are pedestrians. Between March and August this year, more than 18 000 people were arrested for drunk driving, and a third of all traffic arrests, were alcohol related.

South Africa’s drinking culture feeds the problem. According to the World Health Organization, South Africans who drink consume an average of 29.9 litres of pure alcohol a year, making the country the sixth highest globally for consumption per drinker. What is most concerning is that almost six in ten of these drinkers, binge drink.

Zwane said the RTMC identifies hotspots where alcohol consumption is highest, so that roadblocks and patrols can be sent where they matter most. More disturbing still, some of the drunk drivers pulled over are transporting members of the public.

“Payday should bring relief to working families, not tragedy,” says Martlé Keyter, Chief Executive Officer: Operations at #MISA. “Every weekend, families lose breadwinners, children and pedestrians to someone who decided one more drink would not hurt. The police will be on the roads this weekend, and they should be. If you are caught, you could lose your licence, your freedom and your job. If you are not caught, you could lose far more. Do not drink and drive.”

#MISA supports Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s proposed zero blood alcohol limit for drivers. As Zwane put it, South Africa has been too lenient on people who drive drunk, and a zero limit ends the idea that “one for the road” is acceptable.

#MISA urges motorists to plan a lift or a designated driver or e-hailing before the first drink. They should also never get into a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking. While driving, watch out for pedestrians and also for spiking on freeways. If a tyre is damaged, do not pull over, rather drive slowly to a safe, well-lit place before stopping.

The latest #MISAtv episode link is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LmupNBXc6E

Issued by Sonja Carstens, Manager: Media and Communication, on behalf of the Motor Industry Staff Association (#MISA).

#MISA #MISALEADS #PROUDLYMISA #MISAFAMILY #MISAONTHEMOVE