A driver in the Bay of Plenty has been called out on social media for their dangerous driving, which saw the vehicle driving over the centreline multiple times, nearly colliding with other motorists.
Grace Van Dijk, 21, was driving from Waihi to Katikati with her partner on Saturday evening when she saw a yellow car swerving on the road, so she decided to video the driver from the passenger seat.
The yellow car can be seen repeatedly crossing the centreline, driving down the median strip and swerving.
"We could see the yellow car driving over the left hand curb, driving into incoming traffic," Van Dijk told 1News.
"They took the corner really wide, specially towards Waihi beach. Oncoming cars were beeping and flashing lights, then veering off to save themselves."
She said it seemed like the driver "woke up" after being beeped at. The yellow car would "move into the left lane and speed up".
However, it didn't last long, she said.
"We expected [a crash] to be a when and not an if."
"It was scary to say the least."
Van Dijk posted the vidoes on Facebook, with the caption reading: "...Whoever you are, if it was medical? I hope you're okay. But if it wasn't, which based on you yelling out the window at us beeping at you, I'm guessing it wasn't. You have put at least 50 peoples lives including your own at risk this afternoon. If you needed to sleep, you should've delayed your drive or pulled off sooner. If you were drunk, you should've left the keys on the hook or found another way.
"This could've been another stat to add to the Kiwi road toll."
Van Dijk commented on her own post saying she had reported the driver to police.
"If you're tired, delay your journey. If you're drunk or under the influence [of drugs], keep your keys on the hook and delay your journey," she said.
Tauranga Police's Acting Senior Sergeant Ben Gallagher told 1News that other drivers had also reported the vehicle.
"Police received reports of a vehicle swerving across the centreline on SH2 between Waihi and Katikati at around 6.50pm on Saturday 20 January. The vehicle continued to Katikati where it was again witnessed driving in an unsafe manner. Police located and stopped this vehicle a short time later.
"The driver is assisting police with their inquiries."
Gallagher added: "Police would like to thank the public for reporting this incident as such driving behaviour can pose great danger to the public and may lead to serious injuries or death. We encourage everyone to contact police on 111 when witnessing dangerous driving behaviour or report an incident via 105 after the fact."
According to provisional police numbers, New Zealand saw 340 road deaths in 2023. A police spokesperson said "speed, alcohol and drugs and distraction are still the main causes of death and serious injury".
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