Strict new limits for drink-driving 'will save lives'

WATCH AS YOU GO: The new drink-drive limit will be introduced on December 1.

A senior Bay of Plenty police officer predicts drink-driving related deaths in the region could be reduced by 30 per cent each year by a lower drink-drive limit.

The bill takes effect on December 1 to lower the current breath alcohol limit from 400mcg to 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath for drivers over 20. The limit for those under 20 stays at zero.

The blood alcohol limit - reducing from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - will bring New Zealand in line with the rest of the world.

Drivers caught between 251 and 400mcg will receive an instant $200 fine, 50 demerit points and a ban from driving for 12 hours but it will not result in a criminal conviction.

Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said nationally upwards of 60 lives could be saved each year, including two lives from the Bay of Plenty.

"In the Bay of Plenty in 2008, we processed 508 under-20 drink drivers. Last year, we processed 154. If adults can take a leaf out of the young people's book and achieve the same results, over 60 lives a year would be saved.

"[The new limit] is the greatest road safety initiative since the introduction of the under-20s zero alcohol limit. New Zealand now has a real opportunity to reduce alcohol-related deaths and injuries on roads.

"All research around this is unequivocal. If you lower the alcohol limit, you lower deaths, injuries and non-injury crashes."

Ministry of Transport data showed a drop in the number of drink-driving offences in the region from 2293 in 2009 to 1336 in 2013 under the current alcohol limit.

"There is a significant amount of publicity around this - 60 per cent of New Zealanders wanted a lower driving alcohol limit, so I expect there will be a drop. There is a lot of rhetoric about how many standard drinks people can have and stuff but we need to get away from that. The way to tackle this is by saying 'hey, if you have had a drink then don't drive'.

"It will be about mates stepping up and being that legend we have talked about in the past, stopping people from driving drunk.

"It will be about families being available to provide transport. It will be about people planning for when they go our for a drink.

"It's about time everyone in the community stepped up and took responsibility."

Major Toms Bar owner David Stanway said the new law would alter the face of the hospitality industry.

"It will change the way we do things across the sector. We now need to start being more proactive about how we look after our customers and start putting into place things like having a low alcoholic beverage on tap, providing better and more interesting non-alcoholic options for people and subsidising transport options for customers."

Mr Stanway said other business owners did expect a "dramatic fall off" in profits after the new alcohol limit took effect.

"I have already noticed a number of venues that are for sale now and I think that people are showing their books at the strongest they will be before the new limit takes effect.

"Supermarkets are still selling cut price liquor and it's getting more difficult and more expensive for people to come out and drink at a licensed venue, especially because there is a lot of confusion about how many drinks 250mcg actually is, so with this alcohol limit drop, people will play it quite safe and look at drinking at home a bit more."

Transport Agency road safety director Ernst Zollner said the new limits were a necessary change and a "game-changer".

"Drink-driving inflicts a huge amount of pain and suffering on New Zealand families and communities, and this change sends a clear message to those who would put themselves and others at risk by driving while affected by alcohol.

"Together with other recent changes including zero alcohol limits for teens, alcohol interlocks and new penalties for serious and repeat drink-driving offenders, this measure will make New Zealand roads safer for everyone."

NZME.