On 9 August 2016, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced that alcohol interlock sentences will become mandatory for serious and repeat drink-drive offenders. The Government will also include offenders who are currently subject to compulsory alcohol assessments and indefinite disqualification.
Drink driving contributes significantly to vehicle crashes in New Zealand. It causes an average of 77 road deaths, 436 serious injuries and 1252 minor injuries each year.
Alcohol interlocks are very effective as a public safety measure, as they physically prevent an offender from driving after drinking.