The decision by the Government to delay the introduction of a lower blood-alcohol level is bewildering.
After talking tough on the issue, Transport Minister Steven Joyce now says that at least two more years are required for New Zealand-specific research before the Government is prepared to act to lower the limit
from 0.08g per 100ml of blood to 0.05g per 100ml.
That means two more years of inaction and the decision flies in the face of all available international research.
The College of Physicians says that at 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml a driver is twice as likely to crash as one who has had no alcohol. When the level is 0.08g of alcohol per 100ml a driver is seven times more likely to have a crash.
One fact we can rely on without spending a bean on research is that New Zealand is awash with alcohol. We have a booze culture, drinking and driving is prevalent and our road toll reflects that.
The police and road safety campaigners must be mystified by Mr Joyce's decision, which appears to be based almost entirely on maintaining popularity with a section of the community.
The minister has all but admitted this fact, saying that transport officials endorse a lowering of the blood alcohol level but that "politicians also have to judge the acceptability of measures to the wider public".
It's staggering stuff against a backdrop of opinion polls which show at least 50 per cent support in the general population for a lowering of the limit.
Bear in mind that the current limit allows many people to drive legally drunk.
Hawke's Bay Today's own measure of the limit, conducted under supervision of police, showed that one participant was able to drink 10 stubbies of beer in little over two hours before he blew the limit.
When it comes to drink-driving, enough is enough. The Government, however, does not seem to realise that.
