"I guess a lot of us say it will never happen to me, it's always someone else, but 254 people had that same attitude at the beginning of this year, but they're not with us - many of them through no fault of their own. We all share a collective responsibility in keeping the roads safe," Mr Taylor said
The August 17 crash which killed Susan Glen, of Wanganui, was a "freak, genuine, accident", Mr Taylor said.
"It's very rare that you find a situation where circumstances conspire and there's nothing anyone could have done to prevent it from happening. There was a very localised hailstorm, and the tragedy unfolded from there."
Mrs Glen was driving towards Lakes Ranch on State Highway 30 when there was a localised hailstorm. Her Honda CRV and a truck and trailer unit collided.
The first fatality in Rotorua was of Tyrese Hill, 16 months, who was run over as a relative reversed down a driveway. The coroner, Dr Wallace Bain, said at the inquest in December it was a tragic accident.
The Taupo boy was visiting extended family when he slipped out of a rear ranch slider unnoticed and went on to the driveway where his great-aunt was reversing out on to the road. She did not see Tyrese and ran him over. He died at the scene.
A week later Graeme Ward, 72, of Ngongotaha, died in hospital a month after an incident outside his home.
Mr Taylor said the man had stopped his car to retrieve mail from his mailbox when the accident happened on February 28.
"This is a bizarre, unfortunate set of circumstances. He forgot to put his car in park and it cost him his life."
He said Mr Ward had opened his door and put one foot on the ground. His car was on a slight slope and started to roll backwards, he was dragged backwards and pulled from his car. He was found in the road and taken to hospital in a Status 3 condition - mild injuries - but died on March 22.
Anna Lea, 72, was killed on April 16 when she was hit at "low speed" at the Amohau St and Ranolf St intersection. She was riding a scooter.
"This was a simple case of failing to see," Mr Taylor said.
On August 16 Peter Watene died after crashing on Broadlands Rd. Mr Taylor described this crash as "a fatality waiting to happen".
Mr Watene had been drinking and alcohol was found in the vehicle. He was also not wearing a seatbelt.
The death of Israel Jack, 20, on Te Ngae Rd on August 18 is still under police investigation. Mr Jack was found at 4.25am after he was hit by two cars. Rotorua police CIB are still trying to find out how Mr Jack came to be lying in the road and have a five-minute window they have yet to fill.
On October 7 Ryan Thrush, a security guard on his way home from night shift, crashed into a tree on Hamurana Rd around 5.30am. Mr Taylor said the investigation was continuing but fatigue was believed to have been a factor.
In 2012 there were 31 fatal crashes in the Bay of Plenty with four deaths in the Rotorua area.