17 September 2004

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Land Transport ad campaign against drink driving commended

Progressive MP Matt Robson is commending the Land Transport Safety Authority's latest education campaign against drinking then driving.

"Drink driving is social evil and the hurt caused by it are one of the biggest preventable causes of grief today. Good advertising campaigns form part and parcel of a larger set of policies that are needed to defeat the binge drinking culture, particularly amongst the most vulnerable young," the Progressive MP said.

Matt Robson has drafted a law that, among other things, proposes to raise the minimum alcohol purchasing age back to twenty years of age, strengthens provisions relating to the supply of liquor to minors and strengthens liquor advertising law.

Urinals in over 250 pubs and hotels across New Zealand will be plastered by the end of this month with one of two messages: either, "if you drink then don't drive you're a bloody legend" or "if you drink then drive you're a bloody idiot".

Last year, 131 people were killed in drink-driving crashes and drinking drivers injured or killed 580 of their own passengers, 310 occupants of other vehicles and 45 pedestrians and cyclists.

ENDS

© Scoop Media