KEY POINTS:
Police are advising drivers to be patient and prepared when driving this Christmas.
Motorists should drive safely, avoid alcohol, and make sure vehicles, including those towing boats, trailers or caravans, were roadworthy before setting off, said Wellington District's road policing manager, Inspector Peter Baird.
He said it was essential that drivers were patient, were prepared for some delays, and had bottles of water to keep themselves and passengers - especially children and animals - hydrated for their trip.
Holiday traffic would start building up tomorrow afternoon, Mr Baird said.
Police would be monitoring speed, drink-driving and use of seat belts, as well as high-risk offending such as dangerous overtaking, failing to keep left, poor intersection behaviour, careless driving and following too closely, Mr Baird said.
"Police can't stress enough how important it is to make sure the driver is rested. Tired drivers are unsafe drivers."
- NZPA
