Queenstown's mayor is calling for a discussion about overseas drivers - without finger-pointing and name-calling.

A community meeting will be held this Friday on how to make Central Otago's roads safer - amid local pleas to ban tourists from driving.

Jim Boult told Kate Hawkesby almost everyone in the district has a horror story about someone on the wrong side of the road.

"Let's not shy away from the fact that there's some interesting driving out there. However, its not something that we can wave a wand at and, in turn, take it away."

Boult says while locals see a lot of bad driving, the discussion needs to focus on steps that can actually be taken.

"We've had a couple of useful emails already. If you're flying long-haul, maybe some kind of restriction on a rest period you need to take before you get in a rental car."