High road toll sets challenge

Thirty-five people died on the country's roads last month, taking the total for the year to 116 - eight more than at the same time last year.

The Land Transport Safety Authority says the figure is a reminder of how much work needs to be done to reduce the toll. The factors in crashes continue to include speed, alcohol and fatigue.

Releasing the provisional figures yesterday, the authority said the March toll was the third-lowest in 36 years and compared with 46 for March last year.

Of the 116 dead so far this year, 12 were motorcyclists, eight were pedestrians and four were cyclists. The 40-59 age group had the highest number of victims, with 26. There were 19 deaths among 15 to 19-year-olds.

The first death this month was that of a 51-year-old Raetihi man in the central North Island.

The National Road Safety Committee - comprising the authority, the Minister of Transport, police, Transit New Zealand and ACC - is developing a strategy to cut the toll over the next decade.

As part of that, it is looking at other countries which have low tolls, such as Sweden and Britain.


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