How new drunk driving laws may affect your car insurance

South Africa’s drunk driving culture is one of the worst globally with an estimated half of all road accidents being caused by drivers who’re under the influence of alcohol.

Following on this Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula has announced a 0% legal blood alcohol limit that is to be implemented this year, and an increased vigilance through checkpoints and roadblocks.

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Justmoney explores what this may mean for your car insurance claims.

The idea of making drunk driving a Schedule 5 offense which under South African criminal procedure is reserved for offenses such as murder, rape, and treason among others has been toyed with since 2011. Although it hasn’t been implemented yet, there have always been insurance implications for drivers that operate their vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

“Firstly, if you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, it will increase your premiums and impact your risk profile. Secondly, insurance companies will not pay out a claim if a driver was under the influence of alcohol. I imagine that penalties will increase even further if zero tolerance comes into effect,” says Nunben Dixon, head of Gumtree Auto.

Will these new laws affect premiums?

According to Dixon a much stricter policy towards previous offenders will also most likely be put in place. This includes the potential to pay higher premiums, while teetotallers could see the benefit of reduced premiums.

“Accidents that occur while one of the drivers of the vehicles involved is under the influence tends to be extremely severe with cars often written off completely, which increases the financial burden of the insurer. If the driver is found guilty of a Schedule 5 offense, they will likely face jail time and a loss of income, which means that insurers will be a lot more discerning about who they insure in future,” Dixon says.

“I think that anyone with a previous record of drunk driving will become uninsurable or that they may even have future cover declined. I also expect that they will implement more stringent assessments with new qualifying questions to determine the risk profile of clients with regards to lifestyle,” he adds.

Safer driving in South Africa

Drunk driving is a choice, and an extremely expensive and dangerous one at that. But it’s hardly the only choice you have.

Should you find yourself having a drink and needing to get home, here are options for you to consider:

1. Contact your insurer’s take-me-home services

Many insurers already offer take-me-home-services to their policy holders free of charge.  

Santam adds that when a member contacts this number for assistance, a vehicle is dispatched with two drivers and the member is driven home in his or her own vehicle. In addition, all drivers are in possession of a public driver’s permit, carry a cellphone and dress professionally. The drivers all speak English and receive customer service training.

Another consideration for insurance companies could be partnering with some of the latest taxi apps or offering vouchers to customers during times they’re more likely to consume alcohol (e.g. New Year), adds Dixon.

2. Arrange with a trusted sober friend to lift you

Consider contacting someone you trust, that is sober, to safely drive you and your vehicle home.

3. Call an Uber or Taxify

If you’re able to call either an Uber or Taxify, and ensure that your car is safe and secure to pick up the next morning, then do so.

“Overall, I think insurers have and will continue to draw a hard line in the sand when it comes to drunk driving – it benefits no one to do it,” explains Dixon.

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