Drink-drivers told they will be caught

Police will be cracking down on drink-drivers.

Police were disappointed to catch 10 apparent drink-drivers in Whangarei and Dargaville at the weekend, but have a simple message - chance your arm and you will be caught.

Alcohol and driving is a major focus for Northland police, particularly since the legal limit for motorists aged 20 and over fell from 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath to 250mcg on December 1.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Murray Hodson said at the time the lower limit would force Kiwis to address their drinking patterns. Police would be targeting drinking and driving and those who drove over the limit would be caught, Mr Hodson said.

But Northland police-communications manager Sarah Kennett said that with 10 people caught over the limit at the weekend, the message was not getting through to some motorists.

And with nine of those caught allegedly over the old 400mcg limit, some drivers needed to make better plans for getting home.

"It's extremely disappointing that we have had so many motorists allegedly over the limit, especially with all the education that has surrounded drink-driving," she said.

"We've already had two road fatalities in Northland this year and while there's no link to alcohol (in the two fatalities), drink-driving increases the risk of an accident and puts all road users at risk."

Mrs Kennett said people needed to plan their drinking better and arrange for a sober driver or alternative way to get home if they were planning on going out for drinks.

"We have noticed that people are planning better with the new, lower limit, and the majority of motorists are fine, but we've still got some people who need to think about the decisions they make about their drinking and how to get home afterwards, well in advance."