Drivers asked to lay off booze, belt up

Police are pleading with motorists in Northland to lay off the booze, ease off the accelerator and belt up ahead of the Queen's Birthday weekend.

Historically, the most common causes of car crashes during the three-day weekend are alcohol impairment, driving too fast for the conditions, poor handling, poor observation, failure to wear safety belts and failing to give way or stop.

The weather forecast in Northland for the long weekend is for showers, so police were anticipating wet roads were likely to be a problem.

Northland's road police manager, Inspector Murray Hodson, said if the roads were wet then drivers needed to increase their following distances, reduce their speed and avoid braking heavily on corners.

"Take a stop every two hours or change drivers if possible to avoid fatigue," he said.

"As with other holiday weekends, there will be an increased police presence on the roads. All our officers, not just road policing staff, will be patrolling the Northland road network. Speed camera vehicles will be operating for long periods each day."

He put out an early warning: "Every driver stopped will be breath tested.

"If you're drinking at home and you want to get to another location ensure that a sober driver takes you."

A 4km/h tolerance over the permanent posted speed limit will be strictly enforced and there would be zero tolerance to people not wearing restraints.

"Make sure you put children in approved child restraints," he added.