A new peak has been reached in our drunk driver fatalities.

Last year, 111 people died in incidents where a driver was over the limit - up from the 53 seen in 2013.

In the last five years, the highest numbers were recorded in Waikato, Auckland, and Northland.

Crash Investigator and former Police officer, Hamish Piercy told Kate Hawkesby there's no doubt there has been a spike, but it's important to remember the legal limit changed in 2014.

He says they made the limit zero for under 20s, and 250 micrograms per litre of breath for adults - meaning more people have potentially been captured in the statistics.

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