Huntly residents Eunice Griffiths, 82, and Vina Wills, 81, have been named as the two women killed in a head on collision in the Waikato.

The pair were travelling north of Huntly when the Mazda Demio they were in collided with another vehicle on Tuesday, September 6.

District Road Policing Manager Inspector Leo Tooman says witnesses have seen the Mazda travelling south along State Highway One from the Ohinewai Interchange on-ramp before carrying out a U-turn approximately two kilometres south of the crash site.

'The Mazda then travelled north, on the wrong side of the median barrier and collided with a southbound Honda Civic sedan.”

Inspector Tooman says the 32-year-old male driver of the Honda suffered serious injuries and is recovering in Waikato Hospital.

'The crash took the Waikato road toll to 37 compared to 34 for the same period last year and of particular concern was the fact the crash happened in perfect driving conditions.

'With the influx of visitors transiting the Waikato, not only during the Rugby World Cup but also over the following summer drivers should plan the route they're going to take.”

Inspector Tooman says there may be greater traffic volumes and longer travelling times so people should ensure they have plenty of time to get where they are going.

'There has been much commentary about the need to ensure overseas visitors keep to the left when driving but in this case the drivers concerned were local.”

Inspector Tooman says the key thing to concentrate on is driver alertness and mitigating the risks posed by fatigue and inattention to ensure safer journeys for all road users, regardless of nationality.