Tauranga residents began seeing the first signs of heavy Christmas traffic on Monday, as the city prepares for its annual influx of visitors.

Traffic built up at a number of locations around Tauranga, particularly in the central city and on Devonport Road.

A long queue of traffic heading north towards the city became congested at about 11am on Monday, causing some motorists to pull out of the line and head back in the opposite direction.

Officer in charge of Western Bay of Plenty road policing, Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Holmes, says police will increase their visibility on the roads to coincide with the traffic influx.

'We have quite a high profile to make sure people see us out there so it gives them confidence and acts as a deterrent for traffic offenders.”

Mark says there were 23 minor car accidents in the region in the seven days to Monday.

Police are warning motorists to plan their journeys, allow for extra travelling time and be considerate of other road users.

'If there are children in the car, make sure you have regular rests. Children get flustered quite easily and can be a distraction to the driver.”

Marks says slow drivers travelling at a speed below the legal limit need to be aware of traffic behind them and allow motorists to pass at the first opportunity.

'The onus is upon the driver to pull over. Slow drivers can create frustration among motorists, causing people to take unnecessary risks.”