Drink drive limit lowered

New drink drive laws halving the current alcohol limits for drivers have been passed by parliament and will become law on December 1.

From December 1 the breath alcohol limit will be 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath compared with the current 400mcg limit.

The blood alcohol limit will be 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, compared with the current limit of 80mgs per 100ml.

The Land Transport Amendment Bill 2013, which passed its third reading today, also introduces demerits for frequent offenders.

From December 1 drivers caught driving with a breath alcohol level between 251-400mcg, will result in a $200 fine and 50 demerit points. Drivers who refuse or fail to undergo to an evidential breath test will be fined $700 and receive 50 demerit points.

Drivers who accumulate 100 or more demerit points within two years receive a three month driver's licence suspension.

'Changes delivered by this legislation will save lives and reduce injuries, and they demonstrate the government's commitment to improving road safety,” says Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee.

'Lowering the adult drink-driving limit sends a clear signal that consuming alcohol at high levels and then driving is unacceptable,” says Gerry.

More than 1500 people have died and 6700 seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes on New Zealand roads in the last 10 years, according to NZTA.

Drink driving inflicts a huge amount of pain and suffering on innocent road users, and the change sends a clear message to those who put others at risk by driving drunk, says Transport Agency Road Safety Director Ernst Zollner.

The lower blood alcohol limit also brings New Zealand law into line with the limits already in place in the majority of other OECD countries, says Ernst.

'Together with other recent changes including zero alcohol limits for teens and new penalties for serious and repeat drink-driving offenders, this measure will make New Zealand roads safer for everyone."

Reducing deaths and serious injuries from drink-driving is a key plank of the Government's Safer Journeys strategy, which looks across the entire road system to improve safety by creating safer roads and roadsides, safer speeds, safer vehicles and safer road use says Ernst.

More information about the Land Transport Amendment Bill and the changes to adult drink-driving limits can be found at www.transport.govt.nz/legislation/bills/land-transport-amendment-bill-2013/

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4 comments

Brownlee is full of it

Posted on 31-07-2014 16:15 | By Bobby

More revenue gathering, masquerading as a road safety initiative.


Weak

Posted on 31-07-2014 20:54 | By addnut

So, someone who refuses or fails to undergo an evidential breath test get away with a $700 fine plus only 50 demerit points (worth their while to refuse - if they refuse twice they will only be disqualified for 3 months). Needs to be tougher on those who refuse or fail, a $1500 fine and immediate loss of licence for one year plus one day should be mandatory.


The morning after the night before

Posted on 01-08-2014 09:13 | By The author of this comment has been removed.

Late night? Party hard? Off to work in the morning... You may well be in this grey area. Insurance companies will love this. Your liver processes 1 standard drink per hour. Will be too easy to be over with this money gatherer.


@big ted

Posted on 01-08-2014 13:33 | By Sambo Returns

so on your theory...... when you start work at 8.00am, you can drink hard until midnight, then head to work, bullsh**t, unbelievable the amount of negative people who if their families where involved in a tragedy caused by some drunk driver would soon change their inane thoughts, money gathering!!! who bloody cares, if it saves one life its a great law, all be it still way too soft for mine.


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