Media Release

ACC Endorses Police Call for Lower Blood Alcohol Levels

ACC believes many New Zealanders are simply ignoring the drink-drive message or gambling that it won't be them that crashes or kills someone.

"In the last five years the number of ACC claims from motor vehicle injuries and deaths has risen a staggering 25%, now standing at about 5,500 per year. We estimate that in about a quarter of all cases alcohol was a contributing factor," says Dr Jan White, ACC Chief Executive.

"The fact that the Police stopped 236 drunk drivers just last weekend shows that many people still don't appreciate the risks of driving drunk. It is hard to imagine they haven't been exposed to the advertising of recent years, which means they have chosen to ignore it. In that situation even lower blood alcohol limits seem a logical next step for the Government to consider".

Based on overseas experience, lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from 80mg to 50mg could result in between 14 lives saved, and 260 serious injuries every year.

The flow-on effect of lowering the limit in this way is not just that people who were previously between those levels are likely to reduce their consumption but the evidence is that people who were previously over 80mg are also likely to drink less.

The evidence also shows that alcohol related issues like youth male suicide can be reduced through this type of action.

"It's simply not acceptable that innocent people continue to be killed by drunk drivers. That's why we are endorsing the Police call for lower blood alcohol limits."

ENDS

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