Budget Insurance, a leading short-term insurer raises concern around the country’s driving under the influence (DUI) behaviour – following the staggering number of motorists that were arrested over the 2026 Easter Weekend. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), 934 arrests were made of people driving under the influence of alcohol in just 4 days as holidaymakers travelled across the country and to neighbouring countries. This is a significant increase of 39% compared to 2025 and indicates a real need for better education.
On the positive side, ahead of the Easter weekend this year the National Traffic Information System (NATIS) announced that 342,048 vehicles were unroadworthy while 338,659 professional driving permits had expired, resulting in a decrease in the number of unroadworthy vehicles over the season (688 vehicles discontinued compared to the 979 vehicles recorded in 2025).
“While we are relieved to see fewer unroadworthy vehicles on our roads, the spike in DUI arrests remains a major concern. This shift highlights a critical need for the private sector, government, and our communities to join forces. We must keep pushing for better driver behaviour through education, ensuring that everyone behind the wheel is as safe as the cars they drive,” says Tando Ngibe, Senior Manager at Budget Insurance.
The leading insurer emphasises the importance of education and highlights the risk that South Africans’ face should they not adhere to the rules of the road including, not only a criminal record but also the fact that your insurer may not pay out should something happen to your vehicle while under the influence or that your premium could increase due to incidents from bad driving behaviours.
“While we expect upcoming holiday seasons to be slightly quieter, the premise of education remains key as we continue to promote and support healthy driving behaviours,” he concludes.
Sharp 39% Surge in Easter Drunk Driving Arrests Exposes Ongoing Road Riskshttps://t.co/wkHgbOaLjK#ArriveAlive #DontDrinkandDrive pic.twitter.com/H1ZEaIOHMN
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 15, 2026
