Government launches $22.5 million road safety plan to fight worst annual death toll in nearly a decade

With the highest NZ annual road toll in nearly a decade, a simple but extensive plan has been put in place to stop the carnage.

The government has today launched a new $22.5 million plan to keep motorists safer on rural highways.

It comes as the country heads into Christmas with the highest road toll in nearly a decade.

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter says the government is determined to put the breaks on hundreds of preventable deaths each year. 

"We've identified 30 of the most high-risk regional roads and there'll be a number of improvements that will make a significant difference to reducing the risk," Ms Genter says.

There have been 380 deaths on New Zealand roads in the last 12 months, compared to just over 320 the year before.

The plan, which will cost the government $22.5 million to install, will see more rumble stripes to alert drivers whose cars are veering off the road.

Also included will be more safety barriers, as well as activated warning lights at high-risk intersections.

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) safety and environment director Harry Wilson says half of road deaths last year were attributed to falling asleep at the wheel.

"This is about trying to make a difference across parts of the network where there's risk," Mr Wilson says.

The transport agency will begin work in February using unallocated funds from its state highway improvements budget.

The project will begin with highways deemed the most dangerous by the NZTA, including Northland, Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

The Automobile Association is welcoming the improvements, saying rumble strips and barriers help prevent crashes.

However, the AA is concerned about the scale of the project and wants to see the improvements become a priority for more of our highways.

The NZTA says it will also spend hundreds of millions of dollars on major roading corridors but expects positive results from this $22.5 million targeted safety project. 

"We anticipate we should save up to 30 deaths and serious injuries, and if we save one life – just one life – we've done a fantastic thing," Mr Wilson says.

The government also plans to work with local councils to continue pushing road safety messages next year.

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