Since 1989, alcohol-related fatalities on New Zealand roads have dropped by a massive 66%, suggesting that most drivers have taken on board the message about drinking and driving. However the Beer Wine and Spirits Council of New Zealand is not being complacent in their efforts to curb drinking drivers.

Of those drinking drivers, who were killed on our roads, about two thirds were hard core drinking drivers (with a blood alcohol level of above 1 50) and about half of them were repeat offenders with one or more prior convictions.

The Council argues that if such people are not taking any notice of the current blood alcohol limits, they are unlikely to change their attitude if it is lower. Research carried out in Australia showed that the severity of the penalty has little effect on the behaviour of people when it comes to breaking the law; rather it is the expectation of getting caught that is the deterrent. If it is high then this modifies people’s behaviour positively, if they have a low expectation of getting caught, then they take more risks.

The technology is now available to target these people that are repeatedly getting in a car and driving it while they are under the influence of considerable amounts of alcohol. There are Interlock devices that can be fitted to repeat drink drivers cars. The device prevents them starting the car until they have passed a breath test for alcohol levels. These devices are used across the USA, Canada, Sweden and in several Australian States. Rehabilitation and education programmes combined with the Interlock technology is proving to be very effective in the Countries using them.