Drink Driving message

To our Community,

In the year ending December 2022, New Zealand families lost 125 people in crashes involving drivers who were under the influence of Alcohol. A further 206 were seriously injured.

Whilst New Zealand Police officers are on the roads 24/7 conducting alcohol breath screening tests, in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year the intensity of the testing and number of checkpoints increases.

Why? Because traditionally this is when businesses and workplaces finish up for the year and have ‘End of Year’ functions which leads to an increase in the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.

This Christmas / New Year, NZ Police will be putting more staff on the roads and conducting an increased number of alcohol checkpoints. Whilst you will still see some larger checkpoints on the main roads, we will also be conducting smaller ‘Pop Up’ checkpoints on rural and urban routes which are traditionally ‘back roads’ taken by motorists to avoid checkpoints. These ‘Pop Up’ checkpoints will take place both during the day and the evenings.

Why are we telling you this?

Because we do not want anyone impaired by alcohol to be driving. A 100% successful campaign for Police will be thousands of breath screening tests conducted with zero drivers over the limit. We do not want to catch people drink driving we want to prevent them doing so.

Whilst ultimately the driver is responsible for his or her actions, we would like to see more businesses and employers considering their employee’s well-being by ensuring either designated sober drivers or alternative transport is available, and please do not let an employee, colleague, or work mate drive when they are impaired by alcohol. By doing this you may save their life or someone’s else.

How can you help?

We would appreciate your organisation distributing this messaging through your communication channels to as many businesses / Industries as possible. We are taking a prevention approach that needs your support in spreading this messaging.

Our messaging is ‘ We are not the fun Police, have your fun but please be safe on our Roads and do not drink and drive’. If you drive impaired, you may lose your licence or worse someone’s life.

Kind Regards and safe travels