More than 1000 speeding Waikato drivers have been snapped in a police crackdown on the road toll during a month-long buildup to the long Queen's Birthday holiday weekend.
In May, Waikato police handed out tickets to 1035 drivers for speeding.
Police said they would make no apology for cracking down on speeding drivers and said there was no excuse for speeding.
From tomorrow, the tolerance of 110kmh before a ticket was issued no longer applied and anyone travelling at more than 104kmh would get a speeding ticket.
Police called the month-long operation on speeding drivers on Waikato highways Operation Fast and Furious, Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said.
The 1035 speeding drivers was too many but it was particularly concerning because it did not include speed camera tickets and indicated drivers had become too blase about the risks of speeding.
"Excessive speed remains one of the top three contributing factors in the cause of all fatal and injury crashes in Waikato. Speed survey data taken in 2009 shows over 36 percent of vehicles travelling through our district exceed the speed limit in 100kmh areas," he said.
Mr Tooman said a particularly alarming trend was the willingness of drivers of big trucks to speed.
During the operation, 205 truck drivers were caught driving at more than the 90kmh speed limit.
Mr Tooman said last year 10 people died in road crashes during Queen's Birthday weekend in New Zealand.
"Excessive speed, no matter what vehicle you drive, is a killer."
