Hawke's Bay police impound 42 cars due to street racing, intoxicated drivers

Hawke's Bay police are reporting a jump in street racing and intoxicated drivers in the region.

Inspector Matt Broderick said police impounded 42 cars in the previous week, compared to about 25 cars in a normal week.

Of the 42 impounded, 18 were for street racing and 23 for alcohol or driver licensing offences.

The increase was most likely due to the increased police presence on roads in response to cyclone Gabrielle, Broderick said.

"Many of our roads have been severely impacted by the cyclone, and people are focussed on the clean-up and recovery," he said.

"Removing vehicles and drivers who pose a risk to others, particularly at this time, is an important part of our focus to keep people safe."

Police would continue to have a high presence in the area as the cyclone recovery goes on.

"We urge anyone who sees any concerning driving behaviour to report it to police immediately," Broderick said.