Waikato police have urged motorists heading home from their Easter break to "be mindful" of agricultural vehicles after three "serious" crashes in the region involving tractors on Saturday.
Tractor drivers were also warned to be aware of traffic and to let other road users pass where safe.
Two people were seriously injured when a car and tractor collided on Oparure Rd near Te Kuiti at 10.30am.
Just ten minutes later, a motorcyclist was critically injured after colliding with a tractor on Piakonui Rd near Matamata — later dying in hospital.
At 9.45pm on Saturday, a tractor collided with a car at the intersection of Pond Rd and SH29 near Matamata.
Four people in the car were injured, one of them seriously.
Initial inquiries suggest the tractor went through a stop sign and crashed into an oncoming car.
Police said they observed increased numbers of agricultural vehicles on the road as Waikato farmers take advantage of the dry weather to cut maize and make silage in the lead up to winter.
A large amount of traffic was expected to be on the roads on Monday as people headed home after the long weekend, police said.
"We know that it can be frustrating to be stuck behind slow-moving agricultural vehicles, but we’re asking motorists to be patient and only pass when it is safe to do so.
"Similarly, we're asking those on agricultural vehicles to be mindful of traffic around them, and to pull over and let traffic pass when it is safe to do so."
Police said they want all drivers to focus on the basics: watching speed, not using the phone, avoiding driving while impaired and making sure everyone is wearing seatbelts.
The Easter road toll was six as of Monday morning, the highest since 2021.
The official holiday road toll period began at 4pm on Thursday and ends at 6am on Tuesday.
SHARE ME