Medico-Legal Aspects Regarding Drunk Driving

Abstract

The consumption of intoxicating liquor while driving on a public road is regulated by legislators in many countries and states and the legal history of these legislative attempts are vast. Yet, the appearance of drunk driving cases in our courts, statistics on deaths due to drunk driving and other matters related to drunk driving are still a frequent topic of discussion in most jurisdictions and therefore remain a relevant subject matter in need of further research and debate. This article revisits the topic of drunk driving in South Africa by taking a closer look at the most important case law, relevant statutes and then also the more technical and scientific medical aspects concerning drunk driving. It is the aim and rationale of this article to provide a complete outline on the theme of drunk driving, taking into consideration all the relevant factors to better equip the layman, jurist, medical practitioner or any other professional involved in the administration and management of drunk driving cases.

Keywords: Drunk driving, Medico-legal, Intoxication, Blood alcohol concentration