Johannesburg - The Automobile Association has launched a Designated Driver service for motorists wishing to avoid the dreaded breathalyser test after drinking during a night out.
The AA said that South Africa's poor public transport facilities mean that drivers may be tempted to drive themselves home after drinking, even when they know they shouldn't.
The service will operate in all major centres in South Africa and will ensure the user is taken home safely, in their own vehicle, through a reliable provider.
AA Designated Driver will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year, through a simple booking service. All the drivers have a clean driving licence and are older than 25. Importantly, female drivers can be requested for added peace-of-mind for women who use the service.
ADDED SECURITY
A communication is sent 45 minutes prior to pick-up with the driver's name, an added security feature of the service.
"Statistics show that motor vehicle crashes claim the lives of more than 14 000 South Africans annually with as many as 150 000 more injured," says the AA.
"This costs the economy around R307 billion a year, equivalent to 7.8 percent of the country's gross domestic product. More than half of this can be attributed to alcohol consumption, which is in itself a shocking number. Drinking and driving is just not worth the risk," the association concluded.
There are four different packages to suit different budgets, from R99 a month plus a R12.50 per kilometre rate.
Star Motoring