More dead on roads than all of 2002

3.30pm

With six weeks left in the year, the road toll, at 405, is already higher than for all of 2002.

The Land Transport Safety Authority says it is because there are more people on the road, driving further.

The number of vehicles on the open road, where 75 per cent of fatal crashes happen, is up 15 per cent.

LTSA spokesman Andy Knackstedt says too many people are still drink-driving and not wearing seatbelts.

He says police have to keep cracking down on dangerous drivers.

Mr Knackstedt says there has been a huge drop in road deaths in the last five years, but there is still a long way to go.

He says the LTSA is looking at what can be done about known accident black spots.

- Newstalk ZB