The road toll for the year stands at 318 - more than 40 higher than the 2011 tally.

Police are reminding drivers to refrain from driving if they have been drinking and drive within the speed limits after a 22-year-old man was killed last night on the roads.

A week-long police crackdown on cellphone driving offences has seen a surge in the issuing of tickets. Police dished out 790 tickets nationally during the seven-day blitz last month, pushing the November total to 1736. October's total was 1156.

A Tauranga mother caught drink-driving with her four children in the car after she drove through a check-point, almost hitting a police officer, has avoided jail.

A judge has thrown out a drink-driving charge against a Westport lawyer because police gained evidence unfairly.

Comedian Mike King has been ordered to complete 200 hours of community work after pleading guilty to a driving charge.

Suspected drink-drivers could be prosecuted on the evidence of a breath test alone, even if they had requested a blood test, under a bill expected to come before Parliament.

A two-day traffic blitz has caught 100 heavy vehicles speeding - and 98 of them were logging trucks.