Canterbury Police Highway Patrol staff have been targeting motorists crossing the centre line when approaching bends over the past week, in an effort to prevent head-on crashes in open road areas.
Police were disappointed with the amount of bad driving that they witnessed resulting in 105 infringement notices being issued for failing to keep left on State Highway 1 near Kaikoura, and State Highway 7 near Waikari.
Senior Sergeant Phil Newton says that while the vast majority of drivers manage to stay in their lane when approaching a corner, many are putting their lives - and those of other road users - in danger.
"There are still too many motorists prepared to take a huge risk with crossing the centre line, with the anticipation that no other vehicles are coming in the opposite direction," he says.
"Most of the drivers who were stopped by Police were clearly travelling too fast when approaching the corner and then veered across the centre line as they traveled around the bend. Many of the vehicles stopped had families onboard.
"Ensuring that road users have safe journeys is everyone's responsibility. It's unacceptable for drivers to put themselves and others at risk by crossing centre lines."
Police have seen a reduction in fatal crashes on SH7 where centre line and speed enforcement has been carried out, from an average of more than five fatalities a year before 2007 to just over two a year after 2007.
"We believe that enforcement coupled with increased public awareness has resulted in better driving practices and in turn has resulted in the lower road toll."
Police will continue with their enforcement efforts in this area well into the Christmas holidays and in the new year.
ENDS
PHOTOS: Motor vehicles photographed crossing the centre line during a recent enforcement operation at State Highway 7 near Waikari.
