Updated August 2026 with the latest JMPD DUI arrest data

Getting home safely should be the best part of every journey.

That is the thinking behind Drive Sober, Stay Alive, a partnership between AWARE.org and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) aimed at tackling drinking and driving across Johannesburg.

Running from June until the end of December 2026, the six-month initiative combines enforcement, public education and research, with additional focus on periods such as public holidays, long weekends and the festive season.

Now, the numbers behind the campaign give a clearer picture of the challenge.

Nearly 10,000 DUI Arrests in One Year

JMPD data shows that DUI arrests increased from 8,287 in 2023 to 9,898 in 2025.

The highest concentration of arrests occurred between 18:00 and 23:59, while most of those arrested were between 25 and 44 years old.

Men accounted for approximately 94% to 96% of arrests.

The figures don't necessarily mean drunk driving itself increased at exactly the same rate, as arrest numbers can also be affected by the level and location of enforcement. But they do show the scale of DUI enforcement across Johannesburg.

And the arrests haven't slowed down.

Between 17 and 23 August 2026, JMPD arrested 213 motorists for DUI during high-visibility operations, roadside checks and targeted enforcement across the city.

Roadblocks Are Playing a Bigger Role

Roadblocks accounted for more than 72% of DUI arrests in both 2024 and 2025, up from just over half in 2023.

JMPD has also confirmed that high-visibility roadblocks and stop-and-search operations will continue across the city.

Under Drive Sober, Stay Alive, enforcement data is being analysed to identify trends and behavioural patterns that can help inform future road-safety interventions.

The Breath Test Can Become Evidence

Technology is another part of the campaign.

Evidentiary Breath Alcohol Testing (eBAT) machines provide breath-alcohol readings at the point of arrest that are admissible as evidence in court.

AWARE.org says the technology is intended to strengthen the link between arrest, prosecution and accountability, addressing a longstanding challenge in drunk-driving enforcement.

The campaign isn't focused only on arrests. It also includes public education and ongoing research, with information gathered during the six-month programme intended to help shape future interventions.

Before You Head Out

For motorists, the message remains straightforward.

If you plan to drink:

• Choose a designated driver before you go out.
• Use an e-hailing service.
• Arrange to stay over rather than driving home.
• Don't accept a lift from someone who has been drinking.

JMPD and AWARE.org continue to encourage motorists to arrange alternative transport rather than driving after consuming alcohol.

The easiest time to decide how you're getting home is before the first drink, not after the last one.

Why the New Numbers Matter

When Drive Sober, Stay Alive launched, the focus was on combining education, technology and smarter enforcement.

The latest figures put that campaign into perspective:

9,898 DUI arrests in 2025.

The highest concentration between 6pm and midnight.

More than 72% of arrests coming through roadblocks.

And 213 motorists arrested in just one week this August.

Those are arrest figures, not a measure of every drunk driver on Johannesburg's roads. But they show why drinking and driving remains a significant focus for JMPD.

The Bottom Line

Drive Sober, Stay Alive continues until the end of December, taking the campaign through one of the busiest periods on South Africa's roads.

The enforcement methods may be getting more data-driven and the technology more useful, but for motorists the message hasn't become more complicated:

If you're going to drink, decide how you're getting home before you go out.