Tourist caught driving at breakneck 180km/h

Another driver was caught travelling 157km/h near the Tahuna roundabout on State Highway 27. Photo / File

A tourist was caught driving 180km/h in a 100km area in the Waikato.

He was caught on the Waikato Expressway on State Highway 1 heading north and told police he thought he was only travelling at 80km/h.

Another driver was caught travelling 157km/h near the Tahuna roundabout on State Highway 27.

Officer in charge of the Waikato Highway Patrol, Senior Sergeant Steve Ambler, said both drivers had their licenses suspended for 28 days.

"Our message here is with the roads clogged with holiday traffic you need to ensure the speed you are travelling at will allow you to react to anything another person might do on the roads and those speeds fall out of that by a long way.

Police patrolling the busy Waikato holiday routes urged motorists to drive to the conditions and expect delays as thousands cross the district intending to reach the beach.

"This call comes after two incidents yesterday in which drivers exhibited behaviours more appropriate to the racetrack as opposed to congested public road," Senior Sergeant Ambler said.

"So far today our staff have attended six crashes of varying severity across the District including crashes in Raglan, the Karangahake Gorge, two in Netherton and two in Paeroa".

Traffic was particularly built up at the intersection of State Highway 2 and State Highway 26 at Paeroa, and the intersection of State Highway 1 an State Highway 29 at Pairere.

Mr Ambler said both intersections are major routes to popular east coast holiday spots and are clogged with large numbers of holiday makers and people towing boats.

"Our message here is we want everyone to watch their speed this summer and drive to survive.

"At the speeds recorded in the two incidents yesterday there was no room for error and while the weather is fine, increased numbers of vehicles on the road means drivers need more patience."