Editorial: Drink law helps young drivers

A zero alcohol limit for New Zealand drivers aged under 20 could be one of the best laws introduced for that group of drivers in a very long time - because the message appears to be getting through.

In the Rotorua area, at least, as we report today, police say the number of drivers under 20 who they have caught drink-driving has been dropping.

Under 20s have since early August been subject to a zero alcohol limit so the fact there is already a shift is great news indeed and as the police surmise, it may well be that it is simply because the new limit makes it easier for them. There can be no confusion or guessing about tolerance levels when the legal tolerance level is zero.

They know that if they have even one drink, they will be breaking the law if they drive.

While the number of young drink-drivers appears to already be in decline, just a couple of months after the introduction of the new law, there are of course still some who take the chance. But that will likely always be the case.

It is hard to imagine a time when there won't be anybody taking the risk of drinking and driving - reduced offending could be as good as we are likely to get.

Going by today's list published in The Daily Post of some 70 drink-drivers who have been processed by the Rotorua court during September, it appears there are still far too many drivers who are 20 and older who are not getting the message.

Perhaps it is time for our country to consider a zero limit for all drivers.

As with our young drivers, there could then be absolutely no excuse, no poorly made decisions based on individuals' own belief in how much alcohol they can handle before it impairs their ability to drive safely.