Don't tempt fate by driving after big night message from Waikato Police

Waikato Police are congratulating the majority of New Years Eve revellers who braved wet conditions to see in 2012 at popular holiday spots but they are urging those who partied into the wee hours not to hit the roads till at least after midday.

Officer in charge of the Waikato-wide policing operation, Inspector John Kelly, said officers across the District were kept busy with a steady flow of alcohol related incidents as people proved wet weather was no hindrance to having a good time.

"In Whangamata numbers at Williamson Park were a bit down on last year due to the weather but our staff were still kept busy. Again one of the main themes was young people suffering for a lack of experience with alcohol but by and large it was a happy, positive crowd.

"Though we did have a number of young women arrested overnight I'm happy to report we did not see the same issues as last year and it appears to have been 16-18-year-old males getting into trouble."

In Whitianga Police were also very pleased with revellers behaviour with the main issue being large numbers of people fans pre-loading throughout the town before attending events such as the Coro-Gold concert.

The concert event itself was described as being very successful and Mr Kelly said it spoke volumes of the close working relationship Police maintained with the event organisers.

"The challenge now is for us to ensure everyone, no matter where they are across the Waikato remains safe, particularly on our roads as people head back home with forecasts predicting more showers."

Mr Kelly said with alcohol staying in peoples' systems for several hours, just because you've been to bed for a sleep doesn't mean you are fit to drive.

"If you were drinking till 3am your alcohol levels will continue to rise until 5am and four hours after you stopped drinking you are still as impaired as you were when you had your last drink.

"When you consider this and factor in fatigue as part of having a late night, we really don't want to see people hitting the road till well after midday."

With fatal road crashes occurring on Waikato roads on the 1st and 2nd of January last year Mr Kelly said Police would be working to maintain their highly visible presence on the region's roads.