New drink-driving ad aimed at friends and family

If you stop a drink driver, you're "a bloody legend", is the message of a new television ad campaign.

Land Transport New Zealand spokeswoman Rachel Prince said rather than directly targeting the drunk-driver, the new ad targeted people associated with the would-be offender.

"It encourages friends, family and workmates -- the people that can influence a drink-driver -- to take ownership of the problem, speak out and stop the person from making a bad decision," she said.

Despite significant gains in the past 20 years, drink-driving remained the second largest cause of death and injury on New Zealand roads, she said.

Each year, nearly 2000 people are killed or injured in drink-driving crashes.

The new ad will screen for the first time on Sunday, April 30.

- NZPA