Survey uncovers speedsters and drink-drivers

By SCOTT MacLEOD

One in four people drink and drive, and one in three enjoy speeding on the open road, a survey has found.

The Land Transport Safety Authority survey found that attitudes to speeding, drinking and other road safety factors have improved.

But 33 per cent of those surveyed said they enjoyed driving fast, and 24 per cent admitted that during the past year they had driven while "slightly intoxicated".

Authority director David Wright said the admissions of drinking and speeding showed too many people were still driving dangerously.

"There is still a gap between some people's attitudes and their behaviour behind the wheel," he said. "That needs to change."

Most people wanted police to spend more time on road safety and most also felt drink-driving laws were effective.

There was strong support for alcohol, speed and seatbelt enforcement.

Most people agreed the road toll was trimmed by compulsory breath testing (83 per cent), speed enforcement (82 per cent) and seatbelt enforcement (90 per cent).

But nearly two-thirds of people said they rarely saw a checkpoint unless a blitz was on.

The number of people who believed speeding was not dangerous dropped from 24 per cent in 1995 to 15 per cent in the new survey.

The survey found an increase in the use of safety belts. Only 4 per cent of those surveyed said they often or always drove without a belt on short trips, down from 17 per cent in 1995.

National Research Bureau staff spoke to 1645 people aged over 14 throughout New Zealand for the survey.

Herald Feature: Cutting the road toll