The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) recorded 26,578 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol between January 2023 and December 2025. This translates to an average of one arrest per hour over the three-year period. The data, reviewed by the Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education (Aware.org) and the JMPD, provides a comprehensive picture of drinking-and-driving enforcement in the city.
A notable pattern that emerges from the data is the concentration of recorded arrests at night. In 2023, 80% of all recorded DUI arrests occurred between 6pm and 11:59pm. This figure rose to 84.7% in 2024 and 85.9% in 2025. The highest individual volumes of arrests were consistently recorded between 8pm and 11pm.
The findings of the review will inform the work of Aware.org and the JMPD, particularly their joint initiative, Drive Sober, Stay Alive. This initiative aims to enhance road safety through a combination of enforcement, public education, and research. According to Mokebe Thulo, CEO of Aware.org, the three-year review provides valuable evidence to strengthen their efforts and target prevention and education more effectively.
It is essential to distinguish between arrest activity and the overall prevalence of drinking and driving in Johannesburg. Arrest figures reflect what enforcement detects and do not measure the total number of people who drink and drive. Thulo emphasizes that an average of one DUI arrest every hour for three years is a reminder that drinking and driving is a persistent problem that cannot be addressed only during Transport Month or the festive season.
The partnership between Aware.org and the JMPD focuses on using evidence to strengthen drinking-and-driving prevention and encourage safer choices among road users year-round. For Aware.org, the value of the data lies not only in counting arrests but also in understanding the patterns behind them. This understanding can inform more targeted interventions and support behavior change.
Aware.org will share further findings from the review in the coming months, unpacking the patterns behind recorded DUI arrests and what these findings can tell us about drinking-and-driving behavior. These insights will help inform prevention, public education, and enforcement planning. According to Thulo, planning ahead is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of drinking and driving.
Reducing drinking and driving requires a shared response from government, law enforcement, industry, civil society, and individuals. For road users, the message is clear: if alcohol is part of the occasion, plan how you will get home before drinking, and keep drinking and driving separate. Thulo advises that the decision about how you’re getting home should happen before the first drink.
Key points
- Drinking and driving is a persistent problem in Johannesburg, with 26,578 arrests recorded between 2023 and 2025.
- The majority of DUI arrests occur at night, with 80-85% of arrests happening between 6pm and 11:59pm.
- Aware.org and the JMPD are working together to strengthen drinking-and-driving prevention and encourage safer choices among road users year-round.
