WHY South Africa’s Easter drunk-driving arrests surged

South Africa’s Easter road safety push drew fresh attention after the RTMC said 934 motorists were arrested nationwide for drunk driving between Thursday and Saturday, as police stepped up enforcement on busy holiday routes.

The agency said drunk-driving arrests rose 39% from the same period last year, underlining how alcohol-related offences remain a major concern during peak travel periods.

The latest figures came during the government’s broader 2026 Easter Road Safety Campaign, launched by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, which runs from March 20 to May 1 and focuses on reducing crashes, deaths and dangerous driving during one of the country’s busiest travel seasons.

RTMC’s law-enforcement mandate also includes targeting intoxicated driving, unroadworthy vehicles and public transport violations as part of national traffic operations.

The corporation also reported that 1,215 vehicles were impounded, up from 923 over the same period last year, while discontinued unroadworthy vehicles fell to 688 from 979. Separate provincial enforcement reports over the weekend also pointed to sustained action against drunk driving, including more than 120 arrests in Johannesburg and over 130 in the Eastern Cape, reinforcing the national picture of heightened Easter enforcement.