Whanganui police are primed and ready for new drink-drive legislation that comes into effect for under 20-year-olds tomorrow.
From August 7 there is a zero alcohol limit for drivers under 20 and Whanganui police have upgraded roadside breath-testing equipment in anticipation of busier nights.
Senior Sergeant Lance Kennedy said the introduction of
the law change would not go unnoticed by Whanganui police.
"We have had all our roadside equipment upgraded and a second machine has been brought in in anticipation of busier Friday and Saturday nights in particular.
"The second machine will help us cope with any increased offender numbers the new legislation may produce.
"And the upgraded roadside equipment will ensure more accurate readings," Mr Kennedy said.
Meanwhile, Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) has welcomed the law change and will celebrate its introduction during the annual SADD Awareness Week starting Monday. The theme of the week is Be a Zero Hero.
SADD chief executive Anna Reid said the law change was a great step forward in reducing the harm caused on New Zealand roads by young drivers, a group over-represented in all key statistics relating to drink driving.
"In New Zealand, 15-19-year-old drivers at the former legal limit were 15 times more likely to die in a road crash than a sober driver aged 30 or over. Teenagers are inexperienced drivers, so with the old limit, we were adding risk to risk," she said.
"For 25 years SADD students have been educating young people to realise that even one drink is too many.
"It is wonderful to know that the law will finally match up to our key message."
Miss Reid said the new law would clear up confusion.
"Our members have long been telling us the difficulties they have with addressing the legal limit for young drivers.
"Their peers were confused by what the (former) legal limit represented in terms of drinks and this has often led to misjudgment and poor decisions.
"A zero limit will clear this up for young drivers and keep them, their passengers and other road users much safer in the process," Miss Reid said.
