The days of having a beer after work and driving home will soon be over \u2013 and that\u2019s not just because of the lockdown restrictions.<\/p>\n
Once South Africa\u2019s strict new drunk-driving laws have been passed, drivers won\u2019t be allowed to drink alcohol at all, notes insurer, King Price.<\/p>\n
Currently, it\u2019s still legal to get behind the wheel if your blood-alcohol level is under 0.05g per 100ml.<\/p>\n
The new bill adopts a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving by setting the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers at 0%.<\/p>\n
This has serious implications for South African drivers, said King Price\u2019s customer experience partner, Wynand van Vuuren.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re involved in an accident after having even a single drink, you won\u2019t just find yourself on the wrong side of the law, but it can also have a major impact on your insurance.<\/p>\n
Insurers have the right to refuse to pay accident claims if the driver\u2019s blood alcohol level is over the legal limit, he said.<\/p>\n
This clause is included in almost every car insurance policy in SA. Previously, it was difficult to determine whether people were over the legal limit, and whether their driving ability was in fact impaired.<\/p>\n
“The new zero-tolerance approach removes this grey area,\u201d said Van Vuuren. \u201cIf you break the law by driving with alcohol in your blood, your insurer will have no obligation to meet your claim.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re guilty of this offence, it\u2019s also likely that your premium will increase significantly, as you\u2019ll be considered a higher risk, said\u00a0 Van Vuuren.<\/p>\n
In the worst-case scenario, if you\u2019re convicted of drunk driving or have your licence endorsed or suspended, your current insurer may cancel your policy, and you may find it difficult to get car insurance at all in future.<\/p>\n
While the new law will potentially reduce the number of accidents caused by drunken driving, it won\u2019t immediately affect premiums, said Van Vuuren.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we see fewer accidents due to fewer drunken driving incidents in the longer term, though, we may see premiums coming down due to lower claims costs for insurers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new law won\u2019t see existing polices being altered, as most policies already stipulate that drivers must abide by the law. Therefore, the 0% legal blood alcohol limit will apply as soon as the new law comes into effect, he further noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cKing Price clients can add the king\u2019s cab service, which gets the driver and their car home safely when it\u2019s not a good idea to drive. It\u2019s a small additional cost for major peace of mind.<\/p>\n
“Or make Uber your friend, or get a designated driver. But make a plan. It\u2019s just not worth taking the risk of getting behind the wheel,” Van Vuuren said.<\/p>\n