Making our roads safer - Rt Hon John Key

19 Comments
30 July 2010
Making our roads safer

In this issue of Key Notes I talk about changes to our drink driving laws and significant improvements to our employment laws as well as a new funding scheme for public events during next year's Rugby World Cup festival.

Click here to watch my latest video journal - on changes to drink driving laws and more.

MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER

On Monday Transport Minister Steven Joyce and I announced the steps we are taking to crack down on drink driving.

Alcohol is a factor in almost one in three fatal crashes on our roads. This is a serious problem and we are tackling it with a set of tough changes:

A zero blood-alcohol limit for repeat drink drivers
A zero blood-alcohol limit for drivers aged under 20
Alcohol interlocks for repeat drink drivers
Tougher penalties for dangerous or drink drivers who cause death

We will put the changes in place next year, and over the next two years research will be carried out to help us decide what impact lowering the blood-alcohol limit would have.

HOSTING THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

On Tuesday I launched a $9.5 million lotteries fund for public events during next year's Rugby World Cup festival.

The festival is a chance to showcase our delicious food and wine, stunning scenery, and diverse culture. I want to see every community getting involved, and this new fund will help communities hold events such as concerts, fairs, or street markets.

We want the celebrations and economic benefits of hosting the World Cup to be spread all over New Zealand.

GETTING INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY

I opened the annual Local Government New Zealand conference on Monday. Local government really matters, and I urge New Zealanders to have their say by voting in the local body elections this October.

Voter turnout in the 2007 local elections was the lowest in almost 10 years. It would be great to see more people getting engaged in their communities and exercising their democratic right to vote this year.

CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES

We've had lots of good feedback on the changes to employment laws I recently announced at the National Party conference.

It's great news for employers and employees that we're extending our voluntary 90-day trial period to cover all businesses. We introduced the trial period in 2008 for small businesses. Research shows that 40 per cent of employers would not have, or were unlikely to have, taken on a new employee without it.

Many other developed countries we compare ourselves with have similar policies. A number of countries have employment rules that go even further.

Click here for a one page summary of our moderate and practical changes.

Click here to check out my behind-the-scenes video from the recent National Party conference in Auckland.

MAKING THE MOST OF AQUACULTURE

National wants the aquaculture industry to reach its full potential and help grow our economy. That's why we are working hard to free up regulatory bottlenecks that have kept aquaculture planning in limbo.

Last week Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley announced the next steps for our much-needed reform of the industry. We support the industry's goal of $1 billion in annual sales by 2025, and I'm pleased that we're helping them reach that goal.

FROM MY DIARY

Yesterday I spent the day in the Waikato region. I went to lots of events, including a Maori Language Week celebration. This morning I spoke at the annual Motel Association of New Zealand conference in Hamilton.

Next week I'm off to the Pacific Islands Forum in Vanuatu.

Click here for photos of the All Whites' homecoming parade in Wellington last week.

Check out videos from my recent trip to the World Expo in Shanghai and to Hanoi in Viet Nam.

HAVING YOUR SAY

Thanks for sharing your views on Facebook and on my website www.johnkey.co.nz. It's always good to hear what you think. If you have any friends or family who want to receive Key Notes and join in the discussions, they can sign up here.

Best wishes,

John Key
Prime Minister

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#1 - Brian 2010-07-30 16:21 - (Reply)

I am all for tightening up the drink drive laws. I am curious though with the new law of " No alcohol for repeat Drunk Drivers" Most drunk drivers are caught at roadside checkpoints where all you say are your details into the breathalyzer.If a repeat drunk driver has had just enough to keep him under the normal limit he would be flagged on through because if the Officer did a check on every driver to find out if they were a regular the checkpoint would come to a massive stand still, they just don't have the time to do checks when it is busy.

#2 - Mike Power 2010-07-30 17:22 - (Reply)

I think you missed on opportunity by not reducing the blood alcohol level to .05 and thus saving an estimated 30 lives per year. Regardless of public opinion on the matter, the most important thing is to save lives.

#3 - carl scott 2010-07-30 19:23 - (Reply)

every day i watch people speeding past school busses and every so often a kid is killed,yet for years the 20km/h law has been ignored openly by police. Why is this?The latest round of law changes in this area is yet another token gesture designed not to offend the voter.Several of the last children killed at thier busstops were killed by drivers doing way over the 20km/h limit when passing schoolbusses but in general were not prosecuted.Why doesnt this govt break the abuse tradition and demand this law is adhered to.

#4 - Robin de Clive-Lowe 2010-07-30 20:22 - (Reply)

We don't need any more research done on lowering the blood-alcohol limit ! Binge drinking has to stop NOW. Please stop dithering and act NOW ! First, enact new laws to reduce the number of rtetail liquor outlets and to STOP issuing any new licenses, regardless of how many people you might upset, and SECOND, raise the drinkinh age to 20, and if that's unpalatable, at least to 18 ! Such action should guarantee another term of office for National.

#4.1 - Kerian 2011-06-03 21:38 - (Reply)

good on you Robin. Check it all now from above and you will see the big picture. Hope you are enjoying dancing with the angels. Lovexxx

#5 - Chris Metcalf 2010-07-30 22:02 - (Reply)

Very disappointed that the adult drink drive limit is not being reduced from .08 to .05. We must show decisive leadership instead of lacking the courage to do what we all know has to be done. Lives could be saved in the two years while yet another study is done.

#6 - A C Rondel 2010-07-31 09:28 - (Reply)

Great to see you getting tougher on drink drivers causing death but what about the courts. We have had a local drunk driver kill somebody, no WOF, did not sek help for victim and did a runner and received not 1 hour of imprisonment. Scandalous.

#7 - Roy Mackenzie 2010-07-31 10:09 - (Reply)

As a country dwelling active 73 year old with no convictions of any description I wish to congratulate National on the sensible approach to the drink driving problem. I believe it will allow responsible people to enjoy life and will target the ones who are the main cause of the problem. Socialising is an important human activity and there is no public transport rural districts. R.Mackenzie

#7.1 - Gordon Nicol 2010-08-02 22:09 - (Reply)

Roy, you are right on the button. The dreadful results of the road toll are not caused by the majority of the population who enjoy socialising and the moderate use of alcohol. The problem lies with recidivist drunk drivers and immature and/or inexperienced drivers - both of which the Government has identified and will now target with these latest measures. I have always felt that there is an inherent unfairness in the setting and policing of the blood alcohol level because of the difficulty of knowing what your level is at any given time. Most people I know err way on the side of caution - not a bad deterrent I guess. But if ever the limit was to be lowered, I say cheap (subsidised from traffic fines?) and accurate breathalyzers need to be made readily available in Restaurants, Bars and Clubs, so people can establish exactly where they stand, and not become unwitting offenders.

#8 - Jeff Glover 2010-07-31 14:05 - (Reply)

If the government was really serious about drink driving and repeat offending, then why don't they start looking at MINIMUM sentences, ie: minimum of 3 months imprisonment for 3rd time drink/driver and take some leniency away from judges and make it an exception not to imprison, rather then the opposite. This could be applied to other repeat offending as well. If you knew that next time you were GOING TO PRISON, then you would most likely change your drinking habits for the better.

#9 - Ian Mansell 2010-08-01 01:01 - (Reply)

Speed humps should start being installed around schools and so forth. Speed cameras should be attached to school buses that activate when they stop at a delivery point. Less fines and more community service, as fining doesn't change habits when you’re confronted with people who have lacked discipline and conformity during their lives (That’s what happens now with permissive liberal schooling, the kids endure worse psychological effects in later life than the so called problems attached to getting the cane at school). Don't agree with lowering the limit as the only way people can socialise really is by driving (Hardly anyone lives within walking distance of pubs and night life). Really do think more instructive films and videos should be shown in schools and on TV to get the message across of what happens. I always remember the statistic that 1:30 of us will die on the roads.. That’s similar to one person in the class that has fate awaiting them.

#9.1 - Manogi Sweet 2010-08-04 11:07 - (Reply)

I totally agree with Mr Mansell on more comunity service as most of our new generation have an absolute disregard for the law and rules and any types of regulation,so a fine would just be a great joke. Most of our problems stem from lack of discipline and I hate to say this but I think I'm at blame for giving in to the system.We are all at some fault to some degree also as we spoilt our children, it's a wonder we have more drinking under age, most of them never heard the word no. There was also a programme where we had hardened criminals giving talks to the kids in school about life in jail, it took one politically correct parent to put an end to that. There is a new generation out there that really don't have any respect so education really begins with us, the parent's.

#10 - Wilf Marley 2010-08-01 10:11 - (Reply)

I am also you've delayed the reduction from .08 to .05. Reviewing it in two years time is a cop out which will cause more deaths and crashes in the two year delay

#11 - Margaret Murray-Benge said:
2010-08-01 13:23 - (Reply)

I am so pleased that govt is coming to grips with drink driving, and would ask you to introduce car crushing for repeat offenders as well for a valuable too in a traffic officers kit. Good Luck. We live off a busy arterial and I think our traffic officers are doing a splendid job and no one has died on our main road but they certainly have in the past. please stay brave and help us all to stay a live on our roads.

#12 - John Higgins 2010-08-01 13:49 - (Reply)

Why does NZ have to re-do research that was good enough for Australia and many other countries to cap the blood alcohol level at 50mg. If you are scared of losing drinking voters at the next election perhaps you should take note of the 68% of respondents on "Close-up" last week who thought the permissable should be dropped. Get them drunks off our road please.

#13 - Ron Carroll 2010-08-01 13:58 - (Reply)

More good news about tackling drink driving but the government still afraid to risk changing the rule to no alcohol at all before driving. Ignore the AA who are clearly at odds with the general public on this issue. As for repeat drink drivers, show no mercy, they don't. Crush their cars!

#14 - Andrew Mercer said:
2010-08-02 04:54 - (Reply)

There is somethinhg seriously wrong in NZers' attitude to alcohol. It's okay to have a little fun and to make things more social - but when the sole purpose is to get off your face with your mates purely for the sake of it, something is wrong. It seems to be a form of escapism from daily problems. Maybe it helps a little but people also need to learn to deal with their own problems. Right now I'm living and working in Chile where I can go into any supermarket and buy a bottle of (reasonable) rum or whiskey for about NZ$15. It doesn't need to be locked away, hidden, or that tightly controlled. Until now I haven't seen one Chilean drunk or out of control in the street - even after their World Cup games when they were celebrating getting through all their pool games. This is a stark contrast to what I saw every Fri/Sat night in Courtenay Place.

#15 - Charles 2010-08-02 23:39 - (Reply)

A zero blood-alcohol limit for repeat drink drivers, A zero blood-alcohol limit for drivers aged under 20, Alcohol interlocks for repeat drink drivers, Tougher penalties for dangerous or drink drivers who cause death... All good well thought out policys as i like to go to my friends place and have the odd beer or two then drive safetly home under the limit thanks for not making me a criminal... On the repeat offenders there licence should be marked or stamped...and if the officer detects alachol a quick look at the licence will allow them to see very quickly wether or not they are repeat offenders a simple and cheep fix to the problem...As it is law to carry ones licence at all times whilst driving...this will not slow down traffic too much...and as well i dont mind waiting a little to the realisation that that wait is taking stupid idiots off the roads making them safer for myself and my children. Also you could add to this a maximum power out put of vehicles for those on learner and restricted license... AND THRID PARTY INSURANCE MUST BE MADE COMPULSARY for all road users to protect the innocent. I dont agree with car crushing as it takes a heck of alot of carbon fuels to re process that car which has already has its carbon foot print in this world stripping and selling is a better way to go much less of a carbon foot print and parts are recycled...something like this

#16 - James Pettengill 2010-08-04 13:46 - (Reply)

I applaud National on the leaps forward it has made on improving community safety since being in office, the long overdue ban on over the counter sales of methamphetamine precursors being a notable highlight. I can not however understate my disappointment on an apparent capitulation to lobby pressures in delaying action on a key recommendation contained in the law commission report on liquor. The reduction to a 50mg/100ml blood alcohol limit for drivers from the current 80mg/100ml has a logic that is self evident when you ask yourself 'would you allow your children to be driven on the road by a man who has consumed up 6 or even 7 stubbies of beer in the last two hours?' The previous government ignored the conservative values of middle New Zealand at its peril, I personally expect more of the current government in this area.

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