Lesotho to Lower Legal Blood Alcohol Limit for Drivers from April 2026

Motorists in Lesotho whose blood alcohol concentration exceeds 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood will be deemed to have broken the law from April 2026. The change follows a government decision to reduce the current legal limit from 100 milligrams in an effort to curb drunk driving and reduce road accidents.

Public Works and Transport Minister Mr. Matjato Moteane confirmed the decision in an interview this week following a meeting that reviewed outcomes of the festive season road awareness campaign. The campaign focused on reducing drunk driving and improving road safety during a period marked by a sharp rise in accidents.

The road safety campaign was jointly conducted by the Department of Road Safety, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and the Lesotho Defence Force. Operations were carried out at random accident prone hotspots across the country, especially during the peak festive travel period.

Findings from the campaign identified drunk driving as the leading cause of road accidents. Statistics showed that accidents peaked over the festive season, exposing dangerous driving behavior on public roads.

During the holidays, a total of 4 028 road accidents were recorded nationwide. These accidents resulted in 1 863 injuries and 228 deaths, figures described as alarming by authorities.

Mr. Moteane said the new alcohol limit aligns Lesotho with regional standards. Several neighboring countries have already lowered their legal blood alcohol thresholds to below 100 milligrams. He said Lesotho had one of the highest alcohol tolerance limits in the region and that change was overdue.

He said the move places Lesotho on par with countries such as South Africa. He added that Lesotho previously ranked second only to Zambia in terms of high alcohol tolerance for drivers, a position he said could no longer be justified.

The minister said he has approved the introduction of the 50 milligram limit and hopes it will take effect on April 1, 2026. He explained that while drafting a full Act may take time, the ministry will move faster by drafting regulations to be tabled before Parliament.

He said implementation of the proposed change is expected within the next two months once parliamentary approval is secured.

During the review meeting, the Department of Road Safety presented detailed festive season statistics. The data revealed widespread non compliance by motorists, with driving under the influence highlighted as a major concern.

A survey presented by Road Safety representative ’Mamonyane Taoana showed that 36 percent of adult pedestrians accounted for road accident deaths. Passengers made up 30 percent of fatalities, while drivers accounted for 18 percent.

In terms of injuries, 48 percent of adult passengers were injured, along with 21 percent of drivers. The data showed that passengers and pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users.

The survey also revealed that more male motorists caused accidents than females. Most offenders fell within the 31 to 40 age group. Drivers aged 21 and below were less likely to cause accidents, followed closely by those aged 71 and above.

According to the full report, the high rate of road accidents in Lesotho is largely driven by drunk driving. This trend played a key role in the decision to lower the legally permitted alcohol limit for drivers.

Senior Vehicle Inspector ’Malitsitso Ntlama said drunk driving and failure to comply with traffic regulations were major challenges encountered during the campaign. She said motorists are repeatedly urged to inspect their vehicles to ensure they are roadworthy.

Despite these warnings, many unroadworthy vehicles were found on the roads. She highlighted the growing use of re grooved tyres, where old tyres are manually refreshed for resale, as a serious safety risk.

Ms. Ntlama warned motorists against buying retreaded tyres, saying they pose a direct threat to the lives of drivers and other road users. She said although there are currently no specific standards regulating this practice, legislation will soon be introduced.

She also raised concern over government vehicles found to be non compliant. Several were operating without updated registration plates or valid disc renewals. She said fines were issued to drivers and stressed that government vehicles are not exempt from traffic laws.

The reduction of the legal blood alcohol limit marks a major shift in Lesotho’s road safety approach. Authorities believe the new measure will save lives, reduce injuries and promote responsible driving across the country.