A speeding driver more than double the legal alcohol limit was stopped by police with two toddlers in her car and a sports bottle filled with wine.

The driver was stopped at 4pm yesterday on State Highway 1, north of Foxton, for travelling at 118 kmh on the open road.

"As the police officer approached the driver, a 45-year-old woman from Lower Hutt, it was apparent...(she) had consumed alcohol," said Senior Sergeant Kris Burbery, officer in charge of the Central District Highway patrol.

Police said the driver told them she had been drinking since 11.30am that morning.

"Present in the vehicle was a sports drink bottle containing wine, which it appears that the driver was drinking from during her journey. The added concern was that in the vehicle at the time were two small children both under four years of age, and that this driver had travelled from Taranaki and was heading to Lower Hutt."

Burbery said the circumstances were "a tragedy waiting to happen".

"This was a wet and dark night.... I am of the opinion that my highway patrol officer possibly prevented a serious crash and saved someone be it the driver, the innocent children in the vehicle or some other road user from serious injury or death."

"Given the tragic events of the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend this is again an example of a small minority of drivers who continue to drive after consuming alcohol who do not appreciate the risks they are putting everyone at when they drive after (or while) consuming alcohol.

The women will appear in the Levin District Court later this month, on a drink-driving charge.

Police have referred the matter to Child, Youth and Family.

- © Fairfax NZ News