Drink-drivers 'putting kids at risk'

A woman caught drink driving - with two babies and a 5-year-old in the car - is among those who police say are blatantly putting their children's lives at risk.

The woman, who returned an alcohol level of 584mcg/l, was caught by police units carrying out a drink-driving blitz on Auckland's motorways at the weekend. The legal limit is 400mcg/l.

Almost 8000 vehicles were stopped by specialist units from the Traffic Alcohol Group and the Motorways Patrol Group, who carried out breath testing on drivers.

That was not the only case that shocked police officers.

A man travelling on the Northwestern Motorway was caught driving with an alcohol level of 639mcg/l.

In the car with him was a 10-year-old boy and another aged 11.

Auckland motorways commander Inspector Dave Walker said it was a worrying example of what police had seen in recent weeks - the lack of care shown by adults for children travelling in vehicles.

"The two drivers caught during this operation are showing a blatant disregard to their children by driving over the legal breath alcohol limit, while the children are in the vehicle with them," he said. "We must all play our part to stop an alcohol culture which is killing and maiming our loved ones - make the right choice."

As a result of the weekend's drink-driving blitz, 44 people were found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit.

A total of 12 people have since had blood samples taken, the results of which will determine whether they will have to face a judge in court.

Eleven people had their licences suspended because of high alcohol levels - two of which reached worrying levels of over 1000mcg/l - and four people were arrested for offences of driving while disqualified.

Mr Walker also stressed the importance of making sure that children were strapped into their seats correctly.

He highlighted the tragic outcomes of children not being restrained or inadequately restrained while travelling in a vehicle. In March, 4-year-old Adam Pretorius was killed in a head-on crash in Redvale.

Police said he was not correctly restrained to his seat.

Another youngster, 6-year-old Lovedeep Singh, was thrown from a van on Auckland's Southern Motorway after the vehicle rolled. Police said they believed he was not restrained.

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws was stopped last week for driving while there was an unrestrained child in his vehicle.