Dunedin drivers slammed for stupidity

Police have slammed 17 Dunedin drivers for their "stupidity and poor judgement". Photo / Duncan Brown

Police have slammed 17 Dunedin drivers for their "stupidity and poor judgement" after they were apprehended for drinking and driving over the weekend.

Otago Coastal Area prevention manager Inspector Mel Aitken said the number of motorists exceeding the breath alcohol limit had dropped after lower limits came into force in December last year.

"However, it appears some attitudes have relaxed and people are now prepared to take some risks.

"Furthermore, Saturday night's weather was atrocious so the fact that drivers would choose to drive intoxicated in such conditions adds to the stupidity and poor judgement of those apprehended."

More than 1600 Dunedin drivers were breath-tested between Friday and Sunday, and the number who exceeded the limit was "very high", she said.

Those processed for driving with excess breath alcohol were aged 19-61 and had breath alcohol results ranging from 250mcg-935mcg.

New Zealand Police statistics showed drink-driving offences in the Coastal Otago region had decreased from 751 in 2010 to 480 in 2014.

Insp Aitken said the majority of motorists on the roads were responsible, but the message was still not getting through to some people.

To see such a high number still being caught for drinking and driving was disappointing, she said.

"We work very hard on keeping the roads safe, from our consistent messaging through to our enforcement.

"It is highly disappointing that people are prepared to take risks as well as putting other road users in jeopardy."

Oamaru drivers were also criticised for pushing the boundaries of the new drinking and driving laws, after the Alexandra-based Rural Drink Drive Squad caught three drink-drivers and two motorists for alcohol-related breaches of licence at the weekend.

Senior Constable Carl Pedersen said a 34-year-old Oamaru man was found in breach of his zero-alcohol licence and driving a vehicle without an interlock device -- an electronic device that prevents the use of a vehicle if alcohol is detected in a breath sample.

A second Oamaru man, aged 30, with a zero-alcohol licence was found to have alcohol in his system. Both will appear in the Oamaru District Court on August 26.

Snr Const Pedersen was disappointed Waitaki drivers also appeared not to be getting the message.

When new drink-driving legislation came into force on December 1 last year, very few people recorded breath alcohol levels between 251mcg and 400mcg, he said.

"Everyone was paranoid, [but] now they're pushing the boundaries, thinking 'I'm ok, I'll be ok [to drive]."

Recently, more drivers were failing, recording levels between 251mcg and 400mcg and receiving a $200 fine and 50 demerit points, and many were recording levels just over 400mcg.

"Now, we seem to be getting a lot more readings that are just above the 400mcg level."

Insp Aitken said the safety of our roads was the responsibility of everyone who used them, and the message was simple: "If you drink, don't drive".

The message was the same for passengers and those who saw people wanting to drive after drinking, she said.

"If you stop a family member or friend from driving after drinking, you could not only save their lives, but the lives of other drivers and passengers."