The legal limit for driving is less than 0.05g per 100ml of blood.
The legal limit for breath alcohol is less than 0.24mg per 1000 ml of breath.
South Africa (SA) is the world’s sixth-highest per capita alcohol consumer. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) State of Road Safety Report: Calendar January – December 2018 (RTMC Safety Report), there were 12 921 road fatalities in 2018. (www.rtmc.co.za, accessed 21-4-2021). Pedestrians accounted for 38% to 60% of these fatalities, while alcohol is involved in 51% of road fatalities (58% according to the World Health Organization (WHO)) when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) surpasses the existing legal limit of 0.05% (0.02% for professional drivers). The RTMC estimates that alcohol-related car crashes cost our country R 18,2 billion per year. The government’s solution to this issue is to lower the BAC limit to 0%.
International BAC guidelines
A 0% legal BAC limit is enforced in only a few Western democracies, and it is mostly applied to novice or inexperienced drivers. Most Western countries have a BAC limit of 0.05% (https://en.wikipedia.org, accessed 8-4-2021).
The Importance of BAC
The BAC level is used for medical and legal purposes to determine the influence of alcohol consumption on a person’s behavior and driving abilities.
What does 0.08 blood alcohol concentration mean?
Legally inebriated
.08 percent BAC is considered legally inebriated. Very impaired: 0.08-0.40% BAC. You may have difficulties walking and speaking if your blood alcohol level is this high. Other symptoms include dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness.
What is the equivalent of 0.05 blood alcohol level in beers?
05 percent blood alcohol concentration You’d be over the legal limit after three drinks.
