The Government believes New Zealand drivers aren't ready to moderate their drinking. We know they are. So take responsibility for keeping our roads safe by signing up: Two Drinks Max.
- Sign up at nzherald.co.nz here
- Sign up on Facebook here
- Use #2DrinksMax to show support on Twitter
The Herald on Sunday's Two Drinks Max campaign is off to a high-flying start - about 5500 people have signed on to make our roads safer. The campaign to get people to pledge to limit their alcohol before driving has generated a lot of discussion and tens of thousands have had their say in online forums.
It has also elicited much comment about the role of newspapers in today's society.
One of the more abrasive emails received by our online team was from a chap called Matthew. "Piss off Herald!!! Get out of our lives!" he wrote.
"If you idiots think this is a worthwhile cause go and become a politician. It is not the job of a newspaper to try and sway public opinion."
Of course, Matthew is wrong, not just in his overuse of the exclamation mark. Since the day they began newspapers have tried to influence opinion - we do it in a slot called the editorial. It is the chance for a paper's editor to outline his or her views and influence the reader.
Yes, campaigning on an issue, as we are with Two Drinks Max, is a step further.
But let's be very clear on why we are doing it in this case: readers want action and without an organisation like us pushing their views, the Government is not going to move.
That much became clear during submissions on alcohol law changes to the transport select committee this week. Chairman David Bennett, the Hamilton East MP, admitted the law would change - but it was unlikely to be any day soon.
How's this for a contrast: It takes one week to save a hobbit, two years to save lives?
Back to our reasons for getting involved. It is no secret that papers around the world are under pressure. Readers have multiple news sources to choose from.
Papers that flourish, like the Herald on Sunday has in its first six years of existence, are ones that are connected to their reader and push the issues those readers care about.
The largely positive reaction to Two Drinks Max is no surprise. Our polling before we launched indicated this was an issue whose time had come.
That means we're sorry, Matthew, but the campaign will go on. And it won't be the last time we champion something our readers are demanding.
The tales of some readers are moving. Take this line from a letter by Jos: "My husband and friends were killed by a repeat drink-driver. Your grassroots campaign to encourage personal responsibility has got to be a good thing."
