Northland motorists told to dob in 'idiot drivers' over Easter

Idiot drivers will be under extra scrutiny this Easter weekend, with police calling on motorists to report dangerous driving during an expected surge of traffic on the region's roads.

Inspector Wayne Ewers said more staff, and the booze bus would be out on the roads over the weekend, and police expected Thursday, Friday and Monday to be the busiest days.

"Plan your journey, make sure you get plenty of rest, don't drink and drive, don't speed, put your seatbelt on, watch out for distractions and if you see an idiot on the road - report them."

Police from the Waitemata Police District would also extend their patrols into Northland, and could come as far north as the Ruakaka roundabout.

Ewers said police had no special plans for the roadworks at Oakleigh, but urged motorists to obey the speed signs.

A driver reviver stop, organised by Northland Road Safety, will be operating at Uretiti, on SH1 south of Ruakaka, from 5pm this afternoon .

Northland's road toll sits at 15 for the year so far, which is almost double the eight deaths on Northland roads at the end of March last year.

Ewers said speed, alcohol, distractions, and not wearing a seatbelt had all been factors in this year's fatal crashes.

Regional transport committee chairman John Bain said Northland had 3.2 per cent of the national population but had 15 per cent of road fatalities this year.

"We're batting in this dreadful statistic above our weight."

He said motorists needed to drive to the conditions, wear a seatbelt and not drink alcohol or using drugs before driving.

Ewers said two men, aged 17 and 28, involved in a serious head-on crash south of Whangarei yesterday were lucky to survive.

Road crews clean up the road after a head-on crash on State Highway One at Portland. Photo/John Stone

The crash happened on SH1 at the Portland turnoff about 6.30am. The men had to be cut from their respective vehicles and were taken to Whangarei Hospital in serious and moderate conditions.

The NZ Transport Agency has created maps showing the busiest times over Easter Weekend based on previous years travel patterns.

There are two spots in Northland, SH1at Whangarei and Kawakawa, south of the Bay of Islands.

In Whangarei, the busiest times for northbound traffic is between 1pm and 6pm today and between 4pm and 5.30pm on Tuesday. Southbound is between 7am and 9am today and 10am and 2.30pm on Monday.

In Kawakawa, the busiest times are between 10am and 12.30pm on Friday for northbound traffic, and between 10am and 12.30pm on Monday for southbound traffic.

NZTA system manager Steve Mutton said SH11 remained closed at Lemon's Hill so there may be more traffic on SH1 as it was part of the detour route.