Police are urging motorists not to take matters into their own hands, in the wake of the latest removal of car keys from people allegedly driving dangerously.

While police are encouraging the increasing use of *555 calls, the growing trend of motorists confronting bad drivers and removing keys is on the rise nationally - almost one a day during the past week.

In the latest instance, yesterday, car keys were taken from a rental vehicle being driven by an overseas tourist when it stopped at Omarama, in Otago, after repeatedly crossing the centre line in the Lindis Pass.

The issue is especially polarising in Central Otago and Queenstown, which have a high proportion of incidents.

Constable Nayland Smith, of Omarama, said a Christchurch man, who had followed the tourist on State Highway 8 through the Lindis Pass driving north and used a phone to film the driving, pulled in behind the vehicle when it stopped about 1pm at an Omarama hotel.

''He walked over to the [tourist's] vehicle, opened the door and took the keys out, telling the driver he could collect them from the police station,'' Const Smith said.

The film was shown to Const Smith and the driver was issued an infringement notice for failing to drive within his lane (failing to keep left), the rental company was contacted and the tourist's authority to drive was revoked.

Const Smith would not say where the driver was from, but said he and his two passengers - his wife and 22 year old son - were catching a bus to Christchurch.

''I would like to reiterate to the public not to take matters into their own hands, but rather take video footage, and contact police using *555 or 111.

''If the other driver stops, then stop as well if you can and wait for police to arrive,'' he said.

During the past week, there have been reports of at least five incidents of keys being forcibly taken from drivers; mostly foreign visitors. As well, seven foreign drivers were caught in just three hours in the Te Anau Milford district for alleged driving offences, including dangerous driving, last Thursday.

Last week, two Chinese nationals were separately charged with dangerous driving, and issued an infringement notice, near Queenstown. Both subsequently had their rental car contracts torn up.

The next day on Otago Peninsula, a man's rental car contract was revoked after erratic driving was reported by the public.

His nationality was unknown. Two West Coast coast incidents of key taking were also reported, including an alleged assault of one driver.

The same day the Chinese drivers near Queenstown faced charges, the Rental Vehicle Association called for calm because of some ''irrational'' emotion.

The association is working on formalising a regional information sharing network, between competing car rental outlets which would ban any person whose rental contract was cancelled from simply hiring another car elsewhere.

The association is aiming to get 80% to 90% of Queenstown rental car operators on board initially.

Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said yesterday there had been a major increase in callouts through *555 or 111 for bad driving in recent weeks, following publicity about tourist crashes and fatalities.

In the Omarama incident yesterday, Const Smith said while no vehicle had to take action to avoid the tourist's car, he crossed the centre line at times on yellow lines. The driving did not warrant a charge of careless or dangerous driving, Const Smith said.