New lower drink-drive limits are being welcomed as an opportunity for Bay of Plenty drivers to help 'significantly” reduce the nation's alcohol-related crash and death tally.

From next Monday the current breath alcohol limit reduces from 400mcg to 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath for drivers over 20. The limit for those under 20 stays at zero.

Western Bay of Plenty Police breath testing motorists. Photo: File.

The blood alcohol limit - reducing from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - will bring New Zealand in line with the rest of the world.

Drivers caught between 251 and 400mcg will receive an instant $200 fine, 50 demerit points and a ban from driving for 12 hours but it will not result in a criminal conviction.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion welcomes the implementation in another push to improve road safety, with the average annual social cost of alcohol-related crashes at $446 million.

'It's probably the greatest road safety initiative since the introduction of the under 20 zero alcohol limit,” says Ian.

'Alcohol contributes to about 30 per cent of New Zealand's fatal road crashes.”

According to the New Zealand Transport Agency, for every 100 alcohol or drug-impaired drivers or riders who die in road crashes, 47 of their passengers and 16 sober road users die with them.

In the last 10 years, fatal crashes caused by drink-driving have claimed the lives of about 1100 people and caused serious injuries to another 5300.

Ian says between 2010 and 2012 there was an average of 61 alcohol-related deaths and 244 serious injuries per year.

'International research is unequivocal,” he adds. 'If you lower the alcohol limit, you lower deaths, injuries and non-injury crashes.

'New Zealand really has an opportunity here to actually significantly reduce our alcohol related deaths and injuries on our roads.”

Ian says it's up to everyone to make the changes work and make a difference.

'If you are going to have a drink then don't drive,” he adds.

'If you are going to drive then don't drink. It's as simple as that.”