How to report a drunk driver in South Africa
A car drifting between lanes, braking for no reason or stopping at a green robot can mean a driver who should not be behind the wheel. This is the one case where reporting later is not good enough, so help comes first.
Last checked: 27 Oct 2026
The short answer
Pull over, then call 10111 or 112
Pull over somewhere safe first, or ask a passenger to call. Then call 10111 (police) or 112 from a cell phone. Give the road, the direction you are both going and the number plate if you can read it.
Keep your distance
Slow down, stay back and let them pull away. Do not follow, flash your lights, overtake to block them or try to stop the car.
Write it down once you are safe
Number plate, place, time and what you saw.
Then report it
Report it on Padvark and to the RTMC yourself once everyone is safe.
If someone is in danger right now, call 10111 (police) or 112 from a cell phone.
What you might see
Weaving between lanes, drifting over the line, very slow or very fast driving, sudden hard braking, no headlights at night, or sitting at a green robot as if nothing is happening.
You cannot know that someone is drunk just by looking. Describe the driving you saw, not what you think caused it. A report that says what happened is more useful and more fair.
Small details help later: the colour and make of the vehicle, which lane it was in, and whether it was alone. Write them down as soon as you are parked, while you still remember them clearly.
Never follow or confront
A driver who has been drinking is unpredictable, and following them puts you at risk too. Leave the stopping to the police. If you are a passenger in the car with the driver, ask them to pull over somewhere safe and let you out.
Our guide on how to report a bad driver has the full steps and the table of channels.
RTMC on WhatsApp: 083 293 7989 · National Traffic Call Centre (NTCC): 0861 762 847 (08617NaTIS)
Common questions
- Should I follow the car so the police can find it?
- No. Stay back and give the dispatcher the road, the direction and the plate. They can direct the police from there.
- Can I report a drunk driver on Padvark instead of calling?
- If anyone is in danger right now, call 10111 or 112 first. Padvark reports are checked by moderators and are not an emergency service.
- What if I only saw it after the car had gone?
- You can still write down the plate, the place and the time and report it afterwards. Say what you saw, not what you suspect.
- Does a Padvark report say the driver was drunk?
- No. We cannot tell from outside a car, and neither can a report. Padvark reports describe how a vehicle was driven. They are not a finding of guilt.
Ready to report?
It takes a few minutes. Add the number plate, the place and the time, plus a photo or video if you have one.
