Blood alcohol Bill designed to give National courage

Labour Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes says he hopes his Member’s Bill aimed at lowering the blood alcohol limit for drivers will give spine to a National government that is dithering on the issue.

“Everyone knows that Transport Minister Steven Joyce supports lowering the limit from .08 to 05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood, but his colleagues lack the courage to support him,” Darren Hughes said.

“My Land Transport (Safer Alcohol Levels for Driving) Amendment Bill, which is included in today’s Member’s Bill ballot, is designed to give them that courage so that they do the right and sensible thing.”

Darren Hughes said his Bill would also lower the current breath alcohol limit from 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath to 250.

“It’s clear National doesn’t want to stand alone on this issue,” Darren Hughes said. “They now know they don’t have to. Labour will support them if they make a decision to save the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders instead of prevaricating while waiting for more and unnecessary evidence.”

Darren Hughes said he listened with interest to a television interview this week in which UK drug and alcohol expert Professor David Nutt described National’s reluctance to make a decision as ‘weak’ and making ‘no sense’.

“Professor Nutt believes we could reduce our road toll by two-thirds if we reduced the limit because it would alter patterns of driving. The last thing we actually need is two more years of research. We have got research coming out our ears.

“The Law Commission’s wide-ranging report on alcohol left no doubt that blood alcohol limits ‘must come down’,” Darren Hughes said. “Steven Joyce clearly agreed when he said last year that legal alcohol limits for drivers were ‘just ridiculous’. Steven Joyce is already travelling in the same vehicle as Labour on this issue. There’s room inside for his colleagues as well.

“National doesn’t like doing anything without a poll to tell them what their ‘convictions’ should be, but I am sure most of them know in their hearts that their decision to delay a decision for two years will cost lives,” Darren Hughes said.

“National can save those lives by working alongside Labour. My Bill is designed to persuade them enough Kiwis have already been killed to provide all the evidence anyone needs.”

ENDS

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