A victory for prevention is how a Dunedin family who has campaigned for harsher penalties for recidivist drunk drivers greeted drink-driving changes announced by the Government this week.
"It's absolutely delightful," said Megan McPherson, whose brother Jonathan Keogh (28) was killed in a 2006 crash caused by a drunk driver with three previous drink-driving convictions.
On Monday, Transport Minister Stephen Joyce announced changes to drink-driving laws, including a zero drink-drive limit for recidivist drink drivers and drivers aged under 20, from early next year.
Recidivist drivers would face the zero limit after their second drink-driving conviction.
It was proposed the zero limit would be lifted three years after the end of their disqualification period.
Drivers who caused death because of dangerous or drunken behaviour will face tougher jail sentences - for example the maximum prison term for dangerous or reckless driving causing death will be doubled to up to 10 years in prison.
Charges of manslaughter or murder would remain at police discretion.
Also, alcohol interlocks - devices which stop a vehicle from starting if the driver has been drinking - would be mandatory if ordered by a judge for repeat drink-drivers.
They will be user-pays, costing about $150 a month.
Alcohol health groups have reacted with anger and disappointment to the reserved decision on whether to lower the drink-drive limit for other drivers until more research is done, and called the changes "gutless".
But the Keogh family, of Dunedin, has greeted them with "absolute delight".
Jonathan Keogh died on Mother's Day 2006, when drunk driver David Cashman (then 66) crossed the centre line near Templeton and crashed into Mr Keogh's car.
Cashman's blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit and he had three previous convictions for drink-driving.
He was sentenced to three years' prison, with eligibility for parole after two years.
Mrs McPherson said since Cashman's sentencing, she and her family had campaigned for increased penalties for recidivist drunk drivers and the introduction of interlocking devices.
They would stop campaigning now, delighted to have achieved their objective.
"This doesn't change anything for us, nothing ever will, but what it means is that what happened to our family won't happen to another family.
"The judge has far more options and they'll be fairer and I think justice will be better served," Ms McPherson said.
Mr Joyce's announcement took things much further and far quicker than she expected.
"Two years ago, I thought it wouldn't happen.
"We were absolutely stoked when we heard it had," she said.
Since the court case of the man who crashed into her brother, nine other New Zealand families who found themselves in similar circumstances had joined the Keogh family to campaign for the changes.
But now, Mrs McPherson said, it was "mission accomplished" for the Keogh family, and time to move on.
"We've made the best we can out of a bad lot."
