Alcohol abuse remains a major driver of road crashes in Lesotho, with festive season data once again exposing the deadly consequences of drinking and driving, authorities have warned.
This emerged during the presentation of the evaluation of the 2025/26 Road Safety Campaigns (RSC), where officials revealed that despite intensified enforcement and awareness efforts, alcohol-impaired driving continues to endanger lives on the country’s roads.
Senior Vehicle Inspector ‘Malitšitso Ntlama from the Department of Road Safety said findings from festive roadblocks pointed to alarming levels of drunk driving, particularly in Leribe.
Out of 16 drivers tested for alcohol consumption in the district, eight were found to be above the legal alcohol limit, while only three drivers were confirmed sober.
The figures, she noted, paint a troubling picture of widespread disregard for traffic laws during the festive period, a time traditionally associated with increased alcohol consumption and heightened road risk. She stressed that the results clearly demonstrate how drinking and driving remains an entrenched behaviour that requires urgent and sustained intervention.
While there were some encouraging signs, they were limited. Ntlama said Maseru Urban recorded better results during morning operations on December 31, 2025, when 62 drivers were tested, and 59 registered a zero alcohol level. However, authorities cautioned that isolated improvements do not outweigh the broader national trend of alcohol-related risk on the roads.
According to data shared by the Ministry of Public Works through the Director of Road Safety, Dr Kinini Mathews, the 2025 festive campaigns recorded a marginal decline in fatalities, from 39 deaths in 2024 to 38 in 2025. The operations were conducted with support from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), which provided tactical security.
Dr Mathews said the 2025 Road Safety Christmas Campaign was launched in response to the grim statistics of the 2024 festive season, which saw 399 accidents, 256 injuries and 38 fatalities.
She said these figures underscored persistent non-compliance by road users and highlighted that technical measures such as vehicle inspections alone were insufficient, particularly when drunk driving and speeding remained common.
As a result, she explained, the 2025 campaign marked a strategic shift towards tackling human behaviour, with a strong focus on personal responsibility. The theme “Road Safety begins with me” sought to instill individual accountability, especially in relation to alcohol use behind the wheel.
She added that the campaign broadened public awareness through digital platforms, strengthened collaboration with private sector partners and mobilised additional resources. The involvement of the LDF Military Police and LMPS, she said, reinforced the message that road safety is a shared responsibility, while the “365 Days Arrive Alive” philosophy encouraged year-round vigilance beyond the festive season.
Senior Inspector Mpeoane Ntsitsi from the LMPS warned that negligence, including drunk and distracted driving, remains a major contributor to road crashes. She urged motorists to obey speed limits, wear seatbelts and avoid reckless overtaking, stressing that alcohol impairment significantly reduces reaction time and judgement.
Addressing public concerns, Ntlama dismissed claims that a single breathalyser is used unsafely on multiple drivers, explaining that each motorist uses a new disposable paper straw. She said the department is working to standardise alcohol testing procedures to strengthen accountability in dealing with drunk driving cases.
Meanwhile, Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Advocate Lesimole Moletsane, said reducing drinking and driving remains a top priority, as alcohol-fuelled crashes continue to rob families of loved ones.
In his remarks, Minister of Public Works and Transport Matjato Moteane said road fatalities have shown an upward trend over the past five years, rising from 4,001 in 2024 to 4,028 in 2025. He said pedestrians remain the most affected victims, many losing their lives in crashes linked to drunk driving and excessive speeding.
The minister urged drivers to respect the rights of all road users and warned that alcohol abuse on the roads continues to exact a devastating toll on communities, despite ongoing campaigns and enforcement efforts.
Summary
- According to data shared by the Ministry of Public Works through the Director of Road Safety, Dr Kinini Mathews, the 2025 festive campaigns recorded a marginal decline in fatalities, from 39 deaths in 2024 to 38 in 2025.
- The involvement of the LDF Military Police and LMPS, she said, reinforced the message that road safety is a shared responsibility, while the “365 Days Arrive Alive” philosophy encouraged year-round vigilance beyond the festive season.
- The minister urged drivers to respect the rights of all road users and warned that alcohol abuse on the roads continues to exact a devastating toll on communities, despite ongoing campaigns and enforcement efforts.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
