23 March 2021, Durban, South Africa - The “Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving” aims at equipping driving schools in South Africa with educational tools in order to contribute to the prevention and reduction of alcohol-related traffic fatalities and injuries in the eThekwini Municipality. The Autosobriety Programme will be delivered through a number of stakeholders, including private driving schools.

In 2019, according to the Durban Metro Police, there were 65,861 total road traffic crashes, of which 5,500 alcohol related crashes, in eThekwini Municipal area. The number of crashes related to alcohol comprises at least 8% of the total amount.

The overall objective of the Autosobriety Programme is to contribute to the achievement of SDG 3.6 – “By 2030, reduce by half road traffic deaths and injuries” and the UN Global Performance Target for Road Safety (Risk Factor 9 – By 2030, halve the number of road traffic injuries and fatalities related to drivers using alcohol) through education and prevention. The “Autosobriety Training Programme” is an all-round educational module through which participants will learn about alcohol and its impact on their ability to drive, the risks of driving while intoxicated and the legal ramifications, and their personal responsibility to avoid drink driving.

UNITAR in close collaboration with eThekwini Municipality, together with the eThekwini Transport Authority, the eThekwini Municipal Academy, the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE), the International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders in Durban (CIFAL Durban), and with the support of Pernod Ricard are pleased to launch the “Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving”. It will be implemented in three phases, following a cascaded approach for training. The first phase consists of a Training of Trainers (ToT) for driving instructors from the municipality, the second phase targets municipal employees and some 100 driving schools, and lastly, the third phase includes road users in general, with a target of 5,000 beneficiaries.

The Programme kicks off today with the ToT, attended by the instructors from the Municipality’s Driving School, the eThekwini Municipal Academy and the Municipal Institute of Learning, Officers from the Durban Metro Police, and the Transport Authority. Participants will undertake a 2-hour interactive workshop and planning session.

“Through this collaboration, enhanced awareness of drink-driving as a risk factor causing road traffic crashes is expected, as well as the implementation of the Autosobriety Training Programme in the existing training for municipal drivers, and its integration across other sectoral projects of the eThekwini Municipality.” Says His Worship the Mayor Hon Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda.

“As part of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to fight alcohol misuse in society, we are proud to be partnering with the UNITAR and the eThekwini Municipality on the Autosobriety Programme.  We believe that better education on the risks of drink driving is key to empower drivers to make the right decision and to reduce alcohol related road crashes.” Says Andre Muller, Corporate Affairs Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa.

“Training and education are key drivers to advance road safety. Through the “Autosobriety Training Programme”, we aim to reach an important number of drivers in the eThekwini Municipality and this serves as a tool for other municipalities who wish to implement it as well.” So says Dr. Mpilo Ngubane, Director, CIFAL Durban