A halt on road works is being activated this Labour Weekend in anticipation of heavy traffic as people head to their holiday destinations.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is stopping all road works activity on the state highway network throughout the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Waikato areas.

Motorists are being warned to prepare for heavy traffic volumes this weekend.

Regional Highways manager Brett Gliddon says motorists need to follow basic safety rules such as keeping to the speed limit and watching following distances to minimise the chance of road accidents during the long weekend.

'We want everyone to enjoy their holidays by making sure they reach their desired destinations safely. There's no need to rush if you allow plenty of time to get there and allow for regular breaks too if you are travelling far.”

He says the road works halt is to enable smoother flows for holiday traffic, but excludes any emergency work.

'The agency provides a range of free information on their website or by calling a free phone number so motorists can identify what the highway conditions are like before they set off on their trips, there are also tips about how to check your vehicle to ensure it is safe before you head out on the road.”