Southern police have called on people to think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking this summer.
Statistics released under the Official Information Act suggest the number of grossly intoxicated drivers is declining, but police say there is still room for improvement.
"Anytime you drink and drive, you place not only yourself but others at risk,'' Southern district road policing manager Inspector Tania Baron said.
Figures from the Ministry of Justice show the number of drink-drivers convicted in Otago and Southland with breath-alcohol levels of 1200mcg or more has almost halved in the past three years.
The legal limit for drivers 20 or older was lowered to 250mcg on December 1 last year.
However, the level for criminal prosecution remains at 400mcg.
In the year to June 2013, 27 people were convicted in the Southern district for driving with breath-alcohol of 1200mcg or more. In the year to June 2015, that number tumbled to 14.
One person recorded a breath-alcohol level of 1600mcg, four times the criminal limit, in the year to June 2015, the only conviction for someone that intoxicated in the three years of figures supplied by the Ministry of Justice.
People's faculties were significantly impaired at that level of intoxication, Insp Baron said.
"As each person is different, their response to alcohol is different,'' she said.
"However, you can be sure that at this level of intoxication all drivers would have a significantly reduced response time, significantly reduced decision-making abilities and significantly reduced understanding of the risks they are taking.''
Police were disappointed they continued to see drink-drivers on the road.
"Police are always disappointed when they process drivers who are even only slightly over the limit,'' Insp Baron said.
"Our families, just as everyone else's, are out there on the roads and it's disheartening that these drivers risk the lives of those who use the roads.''
Insp Baron said she believed the message about the dangers of drink-driving was beginning to resonate more.
"Our hope is that drivers are becoming more aware of how their actions and behaviours affect others on the roads.
"The introduction of the lower limit a year ago will also have played a part in reminding drivers of their responsibilities.''
Throughout New Zealand, 431 drivers were convicted with breath-alcohol levels of 1200mcg or more.
Of those, 13 recorded a level of 1600mcg or greater.
