The measure is in force in Mendoza and Córdoba after the update of the National Traffic Law
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In the middle of the vacation season, a measure triggered an alarm among drivers and tourists who are traveling around the country.
The provinces of Mendoza and Córdoba began to apply stricter penalties to drivers who drink mate while driving, a behavior considered risky following the update of the National Traffic Law.
Fines can reach $500,000, depending on the jurisdiction and the severity of the violation.
The provision is based on the amendment to National Traffic Law 24.449, updated on March 18, 2025, which redefined the conditions for safe driving on public roads.
Tomar mate estpa totalmente prohíbido
In particular, the focus is on Article 39, which establishes how a driver must drive when control of the vehicle is fully manual.
The regulation states that, in conventional driving mode, the driver must travel "with both hands on the steering wheel", except in cases where it is necessary to operate other vehicle controls.
This exception is intended, for example, for the use of the manual gearbox, which requires the driver to momentarily remove one hand from the wheel.
However, it doesn't contemplate actions unrelated to driving, such as preparing or drinking mate.
Traffic authorities explained that this behavior involves a prolonged distraction, since the driver not only uses one hand to hold the mate, but also diverts attention when preparing it.
In this context, drinking mate while driving came to be considered an offense comparable to using a cell phone behind the wheel.
The update to the law also incorporated criteria related to current vehicle technology, especially driver assistance systems (ADAS) and the different levels of automation.
The text distinguishes between manual driving and assisted or automated driving, clarifying that only at the most advanced levels can the system assume certain functions, although the driver remains responsible for overall control.
In Mendoza and Córdoba, provincial authorities decided to strengthen controls and apply high financial penalties to discourage this habit that is so deeply rooted in Argentine culture.
According to reports, fines vary according to repeat offenses and the criteria of the traffic court, but in the most serious cases they can reach $500,000.
