WELLINGTON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mandatory alcohol interlock sentences and tougher penalties for fleeing drivers are enshrined in the Land Transport Amendment Bill, which was passed by New Zealand Parliament on Thursday.
The bill aims to improve safety for road users by simplifying the law relating to alcohol interlocks, and creating more effective deterrents to drivers fleeing from police, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said.
"Alcohol interlocks are very effective as a public safety measure because they physically prevent an offender driving after drinking. This keeps the driver, their passengers and other road users safe," Bridges said.
Increasing the penalties for fleeing drivers sends a clear message that this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, said the minister. Crashes involving a fleeing driver where people have been killed or injured have nearly doubled in New Zealand -- from 60 in 2012 to 117 in 2016.
The new bill also targets the problem of fare evasion on New Zealand's public transport system by providing new powers to enforcement officers so they can more effectively deal with fare evaders.
