Intervening drivers saving lives - police

Motorists dobbing in dangerous drivers are saving lives. Photo / File

Concerned motorists dobbing in dangerous drivers almost certainly saved lives on the roads last weekend, Waikato police say.

Two drivers spotted cutting off other cars and driving erratically were called in by concerned motorists. Senior Sergeant Steve Ambler of the Waikato Highway Patrol said it showed some drivers were "going above and beyond, and saving lives by their interventions".

"A member of the public rang police on Sunday night reporting the concerning behaviour of a man driving on State Highway 1 north of Huntly," Mr Ambler said.

"The offending driver had cut a motorist off and was weaving between lanes."

He was stopped by police driving at 118km/h, and when questioned his response was 'who cares?' and suggested other drivers were ignorant, Mr Ambler said.

"In the end it was him who was the ignorant one."

The man blew a breath alcohol reading of 921mcg, more than three times the legal limit of 250mcg, despite claiming he had only drank two beers.

A few hours later, another motorist reported a driver cutting off another on Cobham Drive, Hamilton.

"The member of the public followed the offending motorist and reported several more close calls with other drivers before the 45-year-old man driving a Mitsubishi Diamante was pulled over."

The man was so intoxicated he could not do a breath alcohol test at the police station, Mr Ambler said.

"A doctor was called to access his level of impairment."

A 45-year-old man has been charged with driving while incapable.

Had it not been for the actions of the other drivers, emergency services would have been dealing with a serious or fatal crash, Mr Ambler said.

"The number of drivers found driving under the influence of alcohol over the past few days [is] appalling."

He said 17 drivers were found behind the wheel over the 250mg legal limit over the weekend and staff across the Waikato dealt with more than 40 drunk drivers over the past week.

"When you consider 15 of the 40 people killed on Waikato roads this year died in crashes where alcohol and drugs are suspected or confirmed as being contributing factors, the bottom line is drunk drivers kill."