Bid for zero alcohol driving limit
A man who lost his fiancee and daughter in a crash caused by an alleged drunk driver is calling for a zero alcohol limit for all drivers.
Henare Hadfield, 20, and his 1-year-old son Te Tairawhiti were badly hurt when a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old man collided with their car on State Highway 1 in Topuni, Northland, on March 30.
Hadfield’s partner, Janiah Fairburn, also aged 20, and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter Azarliyah were killed in the smash.
Hadfield told Stuff the deaths of his childhood sweetheart and daughter had motivated him to become a road safety campaigner in a bid to prevent further tragedies on the roads.
On Wednesday, he spoke to Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter by phone about his plans to advocate for change.
Police alleged the other driver involved in the crash which ‘‘shattered’’ the Hadfield-Fairburn wha¯ nau, had a breath-alcohol reading of 768 micrograms per litre. The legal limit for an adult with a full licence is 250mcg but for under-20s it is zero.
After his conversation with Genter, which Hadfield described as an ‘‘amazing’’ opportunity, he said he believed there should be ‘‘zero tolerance’’ for drink-driving. ‘‘I just think in general drinking and driving is an absolute no-no. It’s killing our people.’’
Alcohol was a factor in 29 per cent of fatal crashes between 2014 and 2016, according to statistics from the NZ Transport Agency.
While Hadfield was sober on the night of the crash, he admitted that as a teenager he had driven under the influence. He hoped being open about that would encourage other young people to stop drink-driving.
‘‘Just because you’ve done it before, doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it over and over again. I want to break that cycle,’’ he said.
Since the crash, Hadfield has signed up to work with an organisation called Moving Mountains, which helps people get their driving licence, to share his family’s stories with those who complete the programme. It is the start of what he hopes will be a ‘‘movement’’ to change Kiwis’ lax driving attitudes and behaviours.
Hadfield said doctors had told him they were surprised Te Tairawhiti had survived the injuries caused by the crash – which included a fractured neck. The little boy had been in a critical condition for four days but was now expected to make a full recovery. Father and son are doing well and have been discharged from hospital.
Genter said her conversation with Hadfield had deeply affected her emotionally. ‘‘My heart breaks for the enormous personal tragedy he and his wha¯nau have experienced. It was inspiring to hear about his desire to help work towards safer roads and driving in New Zealand, to prevent others from suffering a similar tragedy.’’
Although she could not speak to all families affected by road crashes personally, she wanted to encourage all victims to write to her.
‘‘It’s very important to me to hear these stories directly,’’ Genter said.
A spokeswoman for Genter said introducing a zero alcohol limit for all drivers was not among safety improvements being considered.
Instead, the Government had focused on increasing road police numbers and put in place mandatory alcohol interlock sentences for recidivist drink-driving.