Southern police have criticised the level of drink-driving in the district, as it was revealed more than 1000 people were convicted of being drunk behind the wheel during the past financial year.
Statistics released under the Official Information Act to the Otago Daily Times showed 1021 people were convicted of drink-driving in Southern courts between July 2015 and June 2016.
Of those, 16 people were three times or more over the limit for criminal prosecution, 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath.
The most intoxicated offender recorded a breath-alcohol level of 1648mcg, more than six and a-half times the legal limit to drive and four times the level for criminal prosecution.
The statistics released by the Ministry of Justice showed 317 people were convicted of drink-driving in Invercargill, 310 in Dunedin, 199 in Queenstown, 81 in Oamaru, 73 in Gore and 41 in Alexandra during the past financial year.
It is unclear if the high numbers of drink-drivers appearing before the courts last year represented an increasing trend.
Regardless, the numbers disappointed police, Southern district road policing manager Inspector Tania Baron said.
"This is simply too many people being apprehended for drink-driving," she said.
"People who drink and drive represent a real risk to the safety of all road users.‘‘In the Southern police district alcohol-related crashes resulted in the death of nine people [during the past financial year] with 37 seriously injured and 93 receiving minor injuries, this is unacceptable."
Insp Baron said people needed to be more prepared before they headed out for a night drinking.
"If you intend to go out and drink, plan ahead as to how you will get home," she said.
"Look after your mates and family and don’t let them drink and drive.
"The cost of a taxi is a small price to pay compared to the consequences if you are involved in a crash or you are apprehended for drinking and driving."
Drink-driving limits were lowered in December 2014 with the breath-alcohol limit for drivers over 20 dropping from 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath to 250mcg. The blood-alcohol limit reduced from 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. As well, a zero alcohol tolerance for drivers under 20 had been introduced in 2011.
More operations would target drink-drivers and, as the holiday period approached, a greater police presence could be expected on Southern roads.
"Police will continue to focus on drink-drive enforcement as our goal is to make our communities as safe as possible," she said.
"Police will conduct drink-drive checkpoints and all drivers stopped by police can expect to be breath-tested."
