Bystanders try to stop intoxicated man from driving after he was kicked out of bar in central Dunedin

Police are praising the actions of bystanders who tried to stop an intoxicated man from driving in central Dunedin.

Police are praising the actions of bystanders who tried to stop an intoxicated man from driving in central Dunedin.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said a 20-year-old man was kicked out of The Baa Bar at 7.10pm on Thursday because of his behaviour.

He then got into his car and drove down the street, nearly crashing into a parked car.

A passenger in the vehicle tried to stop him driving, as did witnesses who also called police.

When stopped by police, he recorded a breath alcohol level of 1118mcg, nearly five times the legal limit.

"Police thank those that tried to stop him driving, and also called police," a spokesperson said.

"We continue to operate checkpoints around the city, and every driver stopped is breath tested to make the roads safe."

Later on Thursday night at 11.20pm, police were called to Highcliff Rd after a 47-year-old woman crashed her car into a parked car, which then clipped another car.

The woman appeared drunk and refused to be breath tested, police said.

She was taken to the police station for a blood sample to be taken.