It's the last thing any motorist wants to see – especially on Christmas Day.

A video captured on a motorist's dashcam and sent into SunLive shows a vehicle driving into oncoming traffic on the Sandhurst Drive off-ramp from the Tauranga Eastern Link in Papamoa.

The motorist, who's asked not to be named, says he was returning from Mount Maunganui when he encountered the bad driver at about 3pm.

'I got off onto the slip road and there he was right there in front of me.

'If I had of left 10 seconds later, the driver may have made it all the way down to the bottom part of the ramp. Thank god he didn't crash into an oncoming car.”

After the driver realised he was travelling on the wrong side of the road, he pulled a U-Turn and took off in the opposite direction, says the motorist who recorded the vehicle's registration and has since passed it on to police.

The motorist says he wanted to share his video with the public after seeing all the reports of crashes up and down the country, including Monday's incident on State Highway 29 in the Lower Kaimai.

'Since the holidays started some people's driving has been a bit shocking, something a lot of people have probably noticed, and I wanted to highlight some of the shocking driving that's happening around Tauranga.

'C'mon guys, read the road rules and stop thinking about the holidays!”

With the holiday season now in full swing, police are urging motorists to keep their minds on the road and exercise caution when driving.

And with a large number of drivers expected on the roads this week and next, drivers are also being urged to watch their speed and following distances, allow extra time to reach their destination and enjoy the journey, rather than risk the safety of others by getting impatient and stressed.

'Accidents happen for a variety of reasons, but speed has the biggest effect on the outcome of the accident,” says a police spokesperson.

'Many families will be dealing with the grief of losing a loved one on our roads, we've all seen the media reports of recent road deaths. We don't want to have to break this news to anyone else that their loved ones aren't coming home.”

Police will maintain a highly visible presence on the roads over summer and will be using a range of tactics. This includes focusing on those who choose to drive above the speed limit, those not buckled up, and those driving while impaired.

Like previous summers, speed cameras are positioned in high risk crash areas and are set to enforce a reduced speed threshold of 4km/h until January 31.

SIMPLE SAFE DRIVING TIPS:

• Watch your speed
• Allow extra time for your journey so you are not having to rush
• Maintain following distances
• Only overtake if it is safe to do so
• Make alternative arrangements when you have been drinking
• Make the journey part of your holiday - plan breaks and take your time
• Make sure you and everyone in your car wears a seatbelt or has the appropriate restraint
• Above all, drive considerately and with patience – the way we drive affects others.