Highways fill with cars as holidays end

  • 06/01/2019
Previous traffic on the motorway.
Previous traffic on the motorway. Photo credit: NZTA

Road safety advocates are warning travellers to be careful as the roads fill with traffic for the end of summer holidays.

Monday marks the start of the first full working week of the year, where many offices will open for the first time since shutting down before Christmas.

As a result holiday makers are making their way home on New Zealand's state highways. NZTA is predicting busy and congested roads across the country.

Automobile Association spokesperson Mike Noon told Newshub holidaymakers should be patient and acknowledge they're not the only ones in the situation.

"There's not much point trying to pass other vehicles because there's going to be a steady stream of traffic to most of the main centres."

Mr Noon said people should be planning their trips before they start to allow for breaks or to share the driving.

Also make sure everyone is belted up.

"There will be around a hundred people who died last year who were not wearing their seatbelt, so the absolute first thing you must do is make sure that everybody in your car is correctly belted up."

New Zealand's road toll rose last year and 380 died on the roads.

NZTA is warning about congestion on SH1 both north and south of Auckland, SH2 Huntly to Taupiri, SH2 Maramarua westbound, and SH25a south of Tairua westbound.

There's currently a warning on SH2 on the Remutakas between Upper Hutt and Featherston for strong winds.

High sided vehicles and motorcycles are warned to take care.

Newshub.