Road-safety advertising blitzes a failure, says National

The huge rise in the number of people convicted for dangerous driving and drink-driving in the past six years shows the Government's multimillion-dollar road-safety advertising blitzes are not working, says the National Party.

But the Government says the figures show police and the courts are getting tough on offenders resulting in fewer road deaths.

Answers to parliamentary questions show that between 2000 and 2005 the number of dangerous driving convictions leapt by 81 per cent, convictions for driving under the influence were up 38 per cent and people jailed for driving crimes rose by 119 per cent.

National's law and order spokesman Simon Power said the road-safety advertising messages were clearly not getting through. The Government allocates about $10 million a year for such campaigns.

"The Government has a problem on its hands when we see such huge increases in the number of convictions for dangerous driving and drink-driving.

"They are going to have to do some hard thinking, because the messages are obviously not getting through to drivers."

Mr Power said the Government needed to respond quickly.

But Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven said the increase in convictions was intentional and having a positive effect on the country's road toll which was dropping.

In 2005, 404 people died on New Zealand roads, the lowest road toll for 42 years.

Mr Duynhoven said the figure was even lower if it was taken for the 12 months up until Friday last week - standing at 325.

He said the figures obtained by Mr Power were evidence police and the courts were coming down heavily on dangerous drivers, in line with Government policies.

"One of the things we have done is given them more power to be tougher on those who offend on the road."

"I'm pleased even National's best attempts are showing that [the campaign] is working."

The figures given to Mr Power show that between 2000 and 2005 the number of people convicted for dangerous driving rose from 2301 to 4176.

Those convicted for driving under the influence rose from 15,738 to 21,812.

Those jailed for driving offences rose from 1243 to 2727.

- NZPA