Thousands of Bay people have the power to help stamp out drink-driving.
That's why the Bay of Plenty Times and bayofplentytimes.co.nz have joined a campaign asking readers to sign up to a new pledge scheme under which they promise to have no more than two drinks before driving.
The scheme is called Two Drinks Max and has been launched by our sister APN News & Media newspaper, the Herald on Sunday. The New Zealand Herald has also joined the scheme.
Two Drinks Max was launched after the Government refused to lower the drink-driving limit and gets drivers to commit to a lower level anyway.
It will be part of this paper's wider campaign against drink driving and is supported by a raft of well-known people in Tauranga.
In August, we started naming and shaming all convicted drink drivers in Tauranga District Court on a monthly basis.
We editorialised at the time that enough was enough. Our view hasn't changed one bit.
Since then, we have also carried numerous stories turning the spotlight on the drink driving issue - including an experiment which revealed just how dangerously drunk people can be and still be under the legal limit.
The experiment reinforced this newspaper's view that the government must lower the minimum alcohol driving level from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg - something the Government has refused to do despite an overwhelming weight of scientific research and official advice.
This week, Parliament's Transport Select Committee heard submissions on the case for lowering the limit to 50mg immediately, bringing us into line with a number of overseas countries.
Tauranga's Jos Mason, who lost her husband to a drink driver, has sent her submission.
Our politicians have a duty to listen to people like her who have suffered the horrendous pain drink-driving can cause.
Drink-driving remains a scourge in our community. From July 1 to September 30, 340 drink drivers have been convicted in our courts.
They are all selfish individuals who do not care about anyone else.
It is this paper's view that not only should the blood alcohol limit be lowered, but drink-driving penalties considerably toughened.
All drink-drivers should lose their vehicles permanently.
Those who are more than twice the limit or caught a second time should lose their licences forever.
By signing up to Two Drinks Max, readers will be joining the fight and helping to make a difference.
Who knows, it might just prompt change - and save a life.
Click here to read more and for details of how to sign up.
OUR VIEW: Pledge to make our roads a safe place
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