Road toll: Fewer young people killed

Fewer young people were killed on the roads in 2013 than previous years, provisional road toll figures show.

The road toll for 2013 of 254 was the lowest in the past 60 years.

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse said that represented a drop of 34 per cent on four years ago.

"It's particularly pleasing that 15 to 24 year olds have seen a significant drop with a 37 per cent lower road toll than in 2009,'' Mr Woodhouse said.

In 2013, 66 people aged 15 to 24 were killed on the roads, compared with 105 in 2009.

"While the number of cars on the roads has increased significantly, our annual road toll has now more than halved from 20 years ago, when 600 New Zealanders a year were killed on the roads.''

Provisional data also shows alcohol or drugs were a factor in 30 per cent of fatal crashes, compared with 31 per cent in 2012.

Speed was a factor in 32 per cent of fatal crashes, compared with 25 per cent in 2012.

"Although the 2013 toll is the lowest on record, too many families lost their loved ones on our roads last year, while many others have had their lives changed forever,'' Mr Woodhouse said.

The road toll for the holiday period, which ends at 6am on Friday, stands at six.

Road toll:

2013: 254

2012: 308

2011: 284

2010: 375