Festive season plea to drivers

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Police plan to target drink-driving again over the festive season and they have appealed to the community to do the right thing and avoid it to keep themselves and others safe.

'We want to encourage the right messaging when it comes to alcohol-free driving over the festive season,' said Inspector Lincoln Sycamore.

'There is always a focus on drink-drive here because we have some of the worst drink-drive statistics in the country.

'At this time of year that focus is stronger because we want everyone to have a safe Christmas and New Year season.'

Inspector Sycamore said people planning to drink at festive season functions should also makes plans around sober drivers and safe rides home.

'We want to enjoy the festive season together and we will be concentrating on making our roads as safe as they can be for everyone.

'The drink-drive numbers here are bad and they continue to be bad, despite enforcement and prosecutions.

'There seems to be an attitude in this district that drink-driving is OK . . . and that is seriously not OK,' he said.

Inspector Sycamore said people needed to be aware checkpoints would be operating as usual.

'We will be continuing our active policing in relation to drink-driving.

'So we appeal to people to keep each other safe and not get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they have been drinking.'