Driver takes long time to see

Kevin Deighton is doing something about his drink-driving.

It took Kevin Deighton 16 convictions for drink-driving to make him see the error of his ways.

He hasn't stopped drinking, but he has sold his car and stopped driving entirely in a bid to make sure he never takes to the road affected by alcohol again.

The Hamilton 67-year-old was last convicted of drink-driving in 2008. At the time he told police he'd "had a few beers after work", but his breath-alcohol level was 746 micrograms per litre - almost double the legal limit.

Yesterday he estimated that he'd been to prison about 10 times over the last 20 years for his drink-driving. But that was never a strong enough deterrent.

"It's not enough to stop me doing it. I got used to going to jail. I've never had a problem with alcohol. Driving was my problem," he said.

"I'm not driving any more, it puts me in jail. I still drink, I just don't drive. I thought when I was driving when I was drinking that I was bulletproof, not about the consequences. I thought 'I'll be right'. I was always over the limit, but I used to think 'I'm okay so I'll just drive'."

Deighton said he still felt sober when he was double the legal limit. Hearing about fatal crashes caused by drink-drivers worried him.

"But I've never done anything like that. I've never had an accident or hurt anyone. They (drink-drivers who kill) get what they deserve.

He said nothing would stop people from driving drunk.

"It's up to the individual. People are going to do it regardless of whatever happens."

Deighton said he regretted all of his convictions.

"I regret all of them because they were stupid. There was no need for me to have done it at any time. It affected my family and friends. They were not happy, they were definitely angry. They got used to it though."

He said no one ever asked him why he continued to drink and drive. "I just used to get called an idiot."

Deighton said he sold his car after his 16th conviction.

He gets picked up for work and dropped off home by a mate every day and if he needs to get anywhere else, relies on other people.