Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 8-11 July 2013 "Transport and Sustainable Infrastructure", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.
This project examines the patterns of alcohol consumption and road safety risks facing young people in two South African communities. The research indicates that levels of consumption in both communities are higher than national averages, with young females
consuming comparable amounts and with comparable frequency than males. Hand in
hand with high consumption rates is an elevated exposure to actual and potential collision
risk – one in nine youngsters have already been involved in a collision of some sort (most
commonly as pedestrians) and many are exposed to the dangers of drunk drivers both as
pedestrians and as passengers. The level of real understanding about the dangers of
drinking and mobility are, however, extremely low – in almost all cases the physiological
impact of alcohol was poorly comprehended and even basic knowledge such as national
Blood Alcohol Concentration limits are simply not known or understood.
