Over the weekend Waikato Police processed 36 drivers for excess breath alcohol with several more drivers awaiting the results of blood alcohol tests.

Describing driving behaviour as 'a mixed bag of extremes”, Inspector Freda Grace says members of the public also deserve a pat on the back for potentially saving a number of lives.

From Friday through to Sunday of last week, Waikato Police processed 36 drivers for excess breath alcohol and stopped several motorists for excessive speeding throughout the district. Photo: File

The district road policing manager adds that depending on how you look at things, you should be concerned but you can also take some reassurance from the results.

'In one of the worst cases our staff attended a crash on Pencarrow Rd in Tamahere shortly before 8am on Saturday.

'Here, a grossly intoxicated and belligerent man took up considerable police time, requiring 19 attempts to complete a breath screening test for which he returned a result of 1113mgs.”

That same night, police attended another alcohol related crash, this time on Whatawhata Rd.

Officers arrived to find an intoxicated 63-year-old man lying in a drain under some trees near a car overtuned in a bank.

'Refusing a blood or breath test the man has resisted Police and spat at them prior to his arrest.”

As well as intoxicated drivers, people speeding were creating issues not just for police but other motorists.

Freda says they stopped several motorist who had their licenses suspended for speeds of 140km/h or above.

These motorists were stopped at locations including the Waikato Expressway, SH1 at Karapiro, SH3 at Te Kuiti and south of the town, SH2 outside the Red Fox Tavern at Maramarua and another at Gordonton where a driver blew 498mgs when breath tested.

'A car pulled over on SH1 on Sunday being driven by a 23-year-old forbidden driver had earlier been recorded travelling on Te Ohaaki Rd south of Glen Murray at 183km/h. The man was arrested and his car impounded.”

While pleased with these apprehensions, Freda says the public had also been doing their part.

A report from the public of a car weaving across the road on Saturday afternoon resulted in a driver being stopped on SH1 at Ohinewai.

'When breath tested it was established the driver hadn't been drinking but was very fatigued. The enforced rest break that resulted probably saved this driver's life.”

Freda says police also believed another driving complaint received on Sunday morning probably also prevented a tragedy.

Officers stopped an 89-year-old male driver of a southbound car travelling in the northbound lanes of SH1 at Whangamarino.

'Then on Sunday night calls from the public alerted us to a car travelling on SH27 near Matamata with no lights on.

'When asked why he was driving around in the dark with no lights on, the man said he was driving his girlfriend's car and didn't know where the light switch was.”

Freda says said this was just a snapshot of what Police dealt with on Waikato roads over the weekend.

But on the negative side, Freda insists there are still too many drivers behind the wheel travelling at high speeds and under the influence of alcohol.

'On the positive side, interventions by the public who are taking the message that road safety is everyone's responsibility seriously, probably prevented the loss of at least three lives and a number of serious injuries.”