The Government believes New Zealand drivers aren't ready to moderate their drinking. We know they are. So take responsibility for keeping our roads safe by signing up: Two Drinks Max.
- Sign up at nzherald.co.nz here
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- Use #2DrinksMax to show support on Twitter
Stories of the horror caused by drink driving have flooded in since the launch of the New Zealand Herald-led Two Drinks Max campaign.
They tell of the cost behind New Zealand's drink driving statistics - one of broken families, lives cut short and lasting mental trauma.
Margaret Williamson of Auckland
lost her brother-in-law and his wife when their car was struck by a drunk driver.
The couple, both in their early 40s, had a head on collision when a car coming in the opposite direction crossed the centre line.
Ms Williamson's brother-in-law died instantly and his wife was knocked into a coma she never emerged from.
They left behind two teenage children, who Ms Williamson says suffered permanent mental trauma.
Both gave up on university, with one disappearing and the other becoming a solo mother of two within a few years, she says.
The drunk driver survived the crash.
Albany resident John Macnaughtan has never been able to forget a drink driving crash he witnessed on February 21, 2004.
He was first on the scene when a drunk motorcyclist lost control on a corner near Mangautaroto and struck a horse truck.
Mr Macnaughton searched for survivors, finding the biker's body in a ditch on the side of the road.
His lasting memory is of seeing the man's family in the Coroner's Court, angry and confused at the loss of their loved one.
Jim Pearson of Papamoa was just metres away when repeat drink driver Gordon Armstrong crashed into three motorcyclists near Okere Falls in 2007.
All three bikers and Mr Armstrong died in the accident.
Leon Mason, 33, left behind two young children, one a baby.
His widow Jo Mason went on to found anti-drink driving group Bikers Against Drunk Driving (BADD).
Toni Dommerholt-Purchase, 43, was the mother of two girls aged 10 and 13. She and Mr Short, 37, were partners.
Three children who had been riding in the back of Mr Armstrong's car survived the smash.
Mr Pearson was first on the scene, calling emergency services and checking for survivors.
He is still hit by a feeling of sadness every time he drives the stretch of road.
"Anyone who drinks & drives should see what I saw and they would never get behind the wheel after a few too many ever again."
More than 6200 people have signed on to Two Drinks Max since it was launched on October 24.
The leaders of all major political parties except National have signed on to the campaign.
