Police plead for drivers to slow down

FILE

Police have issued a plea for drivers to slow down and drive to the conditions, following about 50 crashes nationwide in the last few hours.

It includes two in the Taupo area - one on State Highway 1 at Hatepe where one person was critically injured. Another, on Ohaaki Rd saw five people injured including one critically.

Over the past few hours police have had a number of traffic incidents where drivers have alerted us to concerning behaviour on our roads, some of which have resulted in serious crashes, police said in a statement issued tonight.

"There have been about 50 crashes since 3pm today. No one has died yet, but this driving behaviour is just not safe. The potential to ruin people's Christmas is high," National Road Policing Manager Superintendent Steve Greally said.

Bay of Plenty police echoed the call tonight on their Facebook page.

"Police are currently attending a number of vehicle crashes in our district.

"Take care as the roads are slippery and give yourselves extra time to get to your location safely. Extend the distance between the vehicle in front of you and drive to the conditions please."

Mr Greally said there had been several nose-to-tail crashes all over the country, from Auckland and Hamilton, down to Waimate in Canterbury.

"Although many of these have been minor, they could have been avoided had people kept their distance, kept alert and slowed down.

"There's been a serious crash where a car has rolled down a bank in Southland plus we have had a car on fire near SH 25a near Thames where the driver's crashed into a paddock.

"On top of these incidents we have had a serious crash on SH 1 Hatepe, near Taupo in the Bay of Plenty where the occupant has been transported to hospital. There's also been another minor crash near Waikanae Bridge.

"Drivers need to keep their wits about them, think about their actions, the consequences and think about how we can all make a difference by driving to the conditions and keeping to a safe speed."