Teen alcohol limit for driving is zero, CAAP says

Teen alcohol limit for driving is zero, CAAP says

This summer the Christchurch Alcohol Action Project (CAAP) is pushing a “Teen limit is Zero” road safety message.

CAAP’s research shows that young people are not sure about drink-driving laws, and many mistakenly believe there is only one alcohol limit or that the limits are related to driver licence status.

In fact, the law sets its two limits by age and, for teenagers, the limit is so low that a single drink is likely to put them over the limit. The limit for those over 20 is about three times the teen limit.

"As a general rule of thumb for drivers under 20, one drink will put you over
the limit," says Derek Erasmus, the Canterbury Road Policing Manager. “We will have an increased level of enforcement this Christmas and part of that will be concentrating on areas of greatest risk. That includes places where young people congregate."

Last year 1607 Christchurch drivers were prosecuted for drink-driving. Nearly a quarter of those were aged under 20. Last December two passengers of a drinking driver died in the city.

The CAAP committee has been going since 1992. It is funded by Christchurch
City Council and the Land Transport Safety Authority. It collects local data
related to drink-driving in order to deliver local projects which involve Police operations, local advertising, a newsletter to liquor licencees, Christchurch secondary schools, working with the Maori community and advocating for change.

For more information, call CAAP coordinator Ruth Leversedge on 366 2448

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