Police urge people to think twice before driving while tired, following a fatal crash in Central Otago at the weekend, allegedly caused by driver fatigue.

The driver, who allegedly fell asleep at the wheel while driving in the Lindis Pass on Sunday morning, collided with a motorcyclist who died at the scene.

The driver of the car received moderate injuries and was taken to hospital.

No further details have been released, but investigations are ongoing.

Alexandra Police senior constable Graham Perkins said it was a timely reminder for people to rest up before driving, particularly those who arrive in the country on a long-haul flight.

He said it was common for tourists arriving in Christchurch following a long flight, to get into a rental car and drive south before having sufficient rest.

“Fatigue was the big factor in this one,” he said, of Sunday's crash. 

Snr Const Perkins said it was just as bad as drink driving when a driver chose to get behind the wheel after spending hours on an international flight, and then continuing on with their journey when they were fatigued.

“It’s happening regularly and often in vans as well, with only one driver allocated. They are often from overseas and have limited driving experience.”

The latest Lindis Pass crash took place about 15 kilometres from the summit of the pass on State Highway 8 at about 8:30am.

The highway was closed for about eight hours on Sunday causing huge amounts of traffic to divert onto SH85, where police also ticketed 36 people for speeding.

Snr Const Perkins said it was disappointing that so many people were speeding, who were clearly trying to make up for lost time from the detour on State Highway 8.

“Don’t try and get there quickly. It just puts others at risk,” he said.

NZ Police have been proactive at helping drivers stop and take rests with their ‘Driver Reviver’ campaign, offering snacks, drinks and a barbecue over busy weekends and public holidays at certain areas in the district.

Tarras and Lawrence are two spots where police will collaborate with local community groups to offer drivers a safe place to stop and take a break in the coming months.