Police will be conducting random roadside testing and impairment trips throughout this festive season to prevent drink driving.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
A new campaign has been launched by police and the Transport Agency, to encourage people to "arrive alive".
Over the past five years, nearly 1600 people have either been killed or seriously injured because someone was over the legal alcohol limit.
Roughly a quarter of those were killed.
"Unfortunately there are still a lot of Kiwi drivers who don't think it's a problem to drive after drinking," Waka Kotahi Safety, Health and Environment manager Greg Lazzaro.
"They know that drinking increases their chance of crashing, and they know the consequences of being stopped by police, but they're still willing to take the chance.
"Anyone can make a mistake when driving but alcohol impairment can turn that mistake into a life-changing, tragic event."
The advertising campaign, launched earlier this week by the NZTA is targetted at drivers who have developed a sense of complacency about impaired driving.
Police are also on board with the campaign and will be working throughout the holidays and all summer long.
Both organisations are committed to Vision Zero - a target where no one is killed or seriously injured on New Zealand's roads.
"We'll be doing everything we can to prevent drink-driving through impairment checkpoints and random roadside testing," national road policing manager Superintendent Gini Welch.
"But we also ask people to make responsible decisions that don't risk lives. We know people like to socialise and celebrate at the end of the year, and that's ok.
"What we ask is that you please plan ahead. If you're drinking, don't drive."
The new drink-drive campaign is being rolled out through television, in cinemas, on billboards, Facebook, YouTube, video on demand and posters and coasters in provincial pubs.
