A 24-year-old football player from Christchurch was clocked by police travelling at 170km/hr near Bendigo last Wednesday.

Alexandra Police Senior Constable Graham Perkins said the man and his two passengers were in a big rush to make it back to Christchurch for football practice.

Motorists noticed the driver was overtaking dangerously and nearly caused a head on crash with another vehicle, before police were called.

Snr Const Perkins said the men, who were returning from a weekend in Queenstown, had their vehicle instantly impounded, leaving the players stranded on the side of the road with all of their gear.

Earlier last week, a visitor from Amsterdam realised the Lindis Pass was closed with snow, so decided to detour back around via the Danseys Pass, but he lost confidence on the ice.

Snr Const Perkins said he then used his satellite phone to call emergency services and locals were called in to help rescue him.

He spent the night at Palmerston and police had “a serious conversation with him about his actions”.

On July 27 another tourist tried to cross the Lindis one-lane bridge without stopping for other motorists, and caused a three-vehicle crash.  He was charged with failing to give way to oncoming traffic.

The 25-year-old Japanese cyclist killed by a motorist in Wānaka at the weekend was riding on the wrong side of the road on Plantation Road, and was also not wearing a helmet.

Snr Const Perkins said the motorist veered to the left to avoid the cyclist travelling at speed towards the vehicle and hit the driver’s door.  

No charges will be laid because the driver was not at fault. 

He said during winter when there is limited light and the days were darker, people needed to take more care on the roads and not be complacent.