Editorial: Zero even better

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The Government's decision to lower the adult drink-driving limits has been welcomed by road safety advocates.

Parliament voted last week to reduce the breath alcohol limit from 400 micrograms per litre of breath to 250mcgs, and the blood alcohol limit from 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood to 50mg from December 1.

Infringement penalties of $200 and 50 demerit points have also been introduced for drivers returning breath alcohol readings between 251-400mcgs.

For drivers who refuse or fail to undergo an evidential breath test, the infringement fee will rise to $700 and incur the same demerit points.

Transport Agency road safety director Ernst Zollner says that alcohol-related crashes have claimed more than 1500 lives and caused more than 6700 serious injuries in the past decade in this country, and that the law change brings New Zealand into line with other OECD countries.

The Government says lowering the limits will save lives, reduce injuries and send a clear deterrent message.

Hopefully it will. But is it enough?

A zero tolerance approach was introduced for people under 20 years old in August 2011, and in the following year it was reported the number of youth convictions for drink-driving halved.

In the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, Sandra Conchie reported Western Bay road policing Sergeant Mike Owen said while the numbers of people prosecuted in this region for drink-driving was tracking down, the number of drivers caught two or three times over the limit was "astounding".

As Mr Owen says, despite the law, despite the fact people can use other transport options, there are people who still get behind the wheel legally too drunk to drive.

If the existing law is not deterrent enough for this group of people, lowering the limit may not make a difference anyway.

I don't like getting in a car with a driver who has had anything to drink. Even if they are legally under the limit, any amount of alcohol reduces responsiveness, and can vary tremendously how it affects a person.

Drink drivers are a menace. While it is welcome the Government has tightened the rules further, in my view there should be zero tolerance on drinking and driving altogether.