Pulling into a service station where he was promptly arrested by police on Saturday morning could have prevented a mistake that would have cost the 28-year-old NSW man his life.

Wangaratta Highway Patrol officers first spotted the vehicle allegedly travelling southbound on the Hume Freeway at 199km/h just before 4.45am.

Instead of pursuing the car at the dangerous speed, officers radioed ahead to other units in Benalla and Seymour.

But he did not slow down – Benalla police then sighted the car allegedly travelling at 204km/h.

The driver eventually pulled into the Euroa service station about 5am where he was arrested.

He was taken to Benalla Police Station where he returned an alcohol reading of .106.

Wangaratta Highway Patrol Sergeant Michael Connors said the driver should have considered he was putting his life at danger.

“That’s simply stupid driving at that speed at any time of day, but especially that time of the morning,” he said.

“There might be less traffic, but there would be more wildlife.”

Police have been pleading with drivers to be more careful, following a year when 21 people died from crashes in the North East.

“If a vehicle crashes at that speed, there’s absolutely no chance of survival,” Sergeant Connors said.

“To me, he’s just a road criminal.

“Doing things like that, there’s just no excuse whatsoever.”

The 28-year-old NSW man was charged with a range of traffic offences and was bailed to appear at Benalla Magistrates’ Court on February 21.

“Someone like that deserves to be off the road for a very, very long time,” Sergeant Connors said.

Police were patrolling the freeway at night as part of Operation Roadwise, the statewide operation which ran until Sunday in an effort to reduce road trauma and raising awareness about dangerous behaviour.

Benalla police also attended a fatal crash on Saturday about 6.30am.

A man in his late 80s was travelling on Kealy Road when his car veered off and crashed into a tree.

He was the sole occupant of the vehicle and died at the scene.