---
title: "Drunk driving could soon be as serious as rape, murder - minister"
description: "Pretoria - The transport ministry is looking at reclassifying drunk driving to be as serious a crime as rape, murder or attempted murder."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "News24"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/news24/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-01-10-drunk-driving-could-soon-be-as-serious-as-rape-murder-minister/"
published: "2017-01-10T14:21:39"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 92
---

# Drunk driving could soon be as serious as rape, murder - minister

> Pretoria - The transport ministry is looking at reclassifying drunk driving to be as serious a crime as rape, murder or attempted murder.

By News24 · Published 10 January 2017, 16:21 SAST

## Content

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters told reporters in Midrand on Tuesday, during the release of the 2016/17 festive season road fatality statistics, that they were looking at changing the crime from a Schedule 3 to a Schedule 5 offence.

This formed part of its proposed interventions following the 1 714 death recorded over the period.

Those convicted under a Schedule 5 offence face a recommended minimum sentence of 15 years in jail. Schedule 5 offences include murder, attempted murder, treason, rape, corruption, extortion and fraud.

Premeditated murder is a Schedule 6 offence.

News24