In a public lecture at the university yesterday, Prof Geoff Hall said unless there was political will to change the drink-driving problem in New Zealand, the issue would stagnate.
The Government had the choice to stick with its programme of education and deterrence or to be more "creative", he said.
"Recent statistical evidence from three sources, fatalities, enforcement and convictions, indicates the battle is far from won."
Prof Hall, a lecturer in public law, criminal justice and sentencing, suggested ways to improve the situation.
To prevent someone else besides the driver blowing into the unit, the system takes random tests while the car is running, and can activate the car horn or hazard lights.
The system is already in use in Canada, the United States, England and Australia, he said.
New Zealand police have indicated they are watching Australian trials of the device.
Prof Hall said education programmes needed to be directed at high-risk groups.
He saw a lack of advertisements targeting teenage girls and women.
The educational system had been used for 20 years but drink-driving statistics continued to rise, he said.
Instead of reducing the breath-alcohol level which had "marginal" road-safety gains, the Government should extend random breath-testing, Prof Hall said.
That could include using non-sworn staff for many of the tasks now undertaken by sworn officers.
On the subject of the penalty for drink-drivers, Prof Hall said "mandatory penalties, such as imprisonment for a first-time or even recidivist driver, are not the answer".
"I deprecate the use of imprisonment as a penal sanction, except where incapacitation is necessary for the safety of the community."
Mandatory minimum penalties such as disqualification from driving or impounding a vehicle had their place, he said.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to conclude that separating a drink-driver and his/her offending vehicle will be effective."
He said wheel clamping should be available as an alternative to impoundment of vehicles, because there were issues with not enough storage to house the vehicles and vehicles not being reclaimed as the penalty was more than the value of the vehicle.
"[Clamping] will serve as a constant daily reminder of their crime and act as a deterrent to both them and others."
Another solution could be to remove registration plates, he said.
He recommended that in order for an offender who has lost their licence to have it reinstated, they must have an interlock system installed in their vehicle.
With an interlock system, a person breathes into a unit in their car which determines whether they have been drinking.
If so, the car will not start.
Recommended deterrents:
Interlock ignition systems.
Extend random breath-testing.
Wheel clamping.
Registration plate removal.
