Police are urging drivers to slow down, saying they've seen worrying speeds in the Manawatu region over the past couple of weeks

Over the Christmas and New Year period, a driver was detected doing 144 kilometres per hour on a highway near Woodville.

Another was travelling at 132 kilometres per hour heading into Ashhurst in the rain, and one person was caught doing 110 in a 50 zone.

Sergeant Ryan Harrison says there have been a number of serious tragic crashes in the district.

He says if speeds are lowered from an average of 102 to 98, 52 lives could be saved every year..