Two Southland drivers caught speeding this morning were also over the legal alcohol limit — both after drinking the night before and assuming they'd slept it off.
One of the stops was in a school zone.
Both drivers underwent evidential breath testing after being pulled over for speeding. Both blew over the limit. Both admitted they'd been drinking the previous evening but got behind the wheel believing the alcohol had cleared their system. It hadn't.
They were issued infringement notices for excess breath alcohol and speeding, and were forbidden to drive for 12 hours.
Constable Mike Ryder said the incidents were a timely reminder of how long alcohol can linger. "People often assume that after a night's sleep they will be under the legal limit and safe to drive. That is not always the case."
The fix many people reach for — coffee, a cold shower, an early night — doesn't work. "There is no quick way to sober up – a cup of coffee, a cold shower, or a good night's sleep, will not speed up the body's ability to process alcohol. Time is the only factor that reduces alcohol levels," Ryder said.
His advice for anyone who drank the night before is blunt: if you're not certain, don't drive. "Driving while impaired puts not only yourself at risk, but everyone else on our roads."
Police will continue targeting impaired driving across Southland. Anyone who sees unsafe driving should call 111 if it's happening now, 105 for non-urgent reports, or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.