Drinking? Don't Drive. It’s Time to Get Our Heads Around It.

We’re continuing to get behind the wheel after drinking, with alcohol being a major factor contributing to deaths and serious injury crashes in the Wairarapa region.

In response, NZ Police, Waka Kotahi, and partners, including Wairarapa Road Safety Council  have come together over May and June to collectively target people in Wairarapa who continue to think it’s okay to drink and then drive. People are reminded of the consequences through education and advertising, backed up on the ground by Police vehicle checks, enforcement, and driver education.

Holly Hullena, Projects Coordinator at Wairarapa Road Safety Council, emphasizes the social impacts of losing your license due to drink driving. "Losing your license isn't just a personal inconvenience; it affects your ability to work, socialize, and support your family. The ripple effects can be devastating for both individuals and the community."

"As a community, we must not tolerate drink driving," Hullena continues. "Together, we need to shift the attitudes and behaviors of our 'drink drivers' so they see themselves the same as 'drunk drivers'. For a long time, there has been plenty of information available on how to arrange a safer ride home. There’s just no excuse now."

Wairarapa Road Safety Council is joining forces with road safety partners to target people who continue to drink and drive and put us all at risk. Drink driving has a significant impact not only on the driver themselves but on passengers and people using the road around them. Around 40% of people injured in crashes involving alcohol were not the drink driver behind the wheel. Police will be out to enforce good road safety behaviors and those that choose not take heed of these messages.

Find out more to keep yourself and others safe, because there's more to lose than your license. Visit nzta.govt.nz/drinking-dont-drive.