Bay of Plenty motorists are being advised keep up the good work and continue driving sensibly after a quiet start to the festive period for Tauranga's roading police.

During the two day period of Christmas Day and Boxing Day police attended a total of five crashes on the Bay roads – with two resulting in minor injury.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion is praising Bay of Plenty motorists for the sensible start to the holiday period.

'None were on the state highway network which is great news for us,” says Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion.

'I would like to urge people to continue driving careful over the New Year period.”

Ian says it is important motorists stick to the basics – not driving intoxicated and watching their following distances – with a significant increase of traffic on the roads as people travel to holiday destinations and visit friends and family.

'Treat everyone else on the road as a threat and drive defensively over the period and keep you speeds down. I urge people to take extreme care.”

Waikato police are also issuing a plea for holiday motorists to slow down after the single vehicle crash which shut down traffic on SH25, between Whitianga and Tairua, for four hours yesterday.

Officer in charge of the Police's Summer Policing operation in Whangamata, Senior Sergeant Freda Grace says traffic throughout the eastern Coromandel slowed to a crawl following the crash about 12.45pm.

"The crash involved a single people-mover type vehicle travelling towards Whitianga and is still under investigation by the Serious Crash Unit however initial indications are speed was contributing factor,” says Freda.

"The driver of the vehicle appears to have failed to negotiate a sign-posted 25km/h corner, crossed the centreline and gone down a 20m bank. Members of the public had to travel from the scene to raise the alarm due to poor cell-phone coverage."

Freda says the six occupants of the vehicle suffered a variety of injuries with two people, a woman and a two year-old child being flown by air ambulance to hospital with serious injuries.

"The other four occupants were taken to hospital by ambulances that arrived from Whitianga and Hahei.

"The crash closed the road for a considerable period and resulted in traffic being diverted on to the gravel Tapu-Coroglen Rd causing significant congestion. A salvage vehicle is on its way from Hamilton to recover the van from down the bank and the road is likely to be closed down to at least one lane during this recovery so if you can avoid the area we suggest you do"

Freda says despite the fine weather there had been seven crashes across the Waikato Police District with three happening in the Coromandel placing pressure on responding emergency services.

"While Police are working full time our sister ambulance and fire crews rely heavily on volunteers who are also trying to enjoy their summer holidays.

"With thousands more vehicles on the narrow Coromandel roads over the next few days its crucial drivers pay attention and slow down. By showing a bit of patience we will ensure everyone gets to and from their destination safely."

Police are continuing to maintain their zero tolerance approach to any motorists found driving in excess of any posted speed limit over the summer.