He said improvements on state highways in Otago and Southland would also be fast-tracked for completion by July 1. They would include an additional 50km of centre-line "rumble strips", 140km of no-passing markings and 200km of highway marked with "keep left" arrows.
The safety improvements would be in addition to measures already in place in Otago and Southland.
The announcement fell short of expectations for road safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson, who said he believed the Government had not addressed any major issues.
"For example, the Government is finally agreeing to sort out poorly signed roads and install rumble strips, but there will be no new median barriers to prevent head-on collisions, no strategy to remove slippery gravel from the side of the roads, no strategy to move the road lines inwards to lessen the chance of drivers drifting off the road."
Meanwhile, a funeral has been held for 5-year-old Ruby Jay Marris, who was killed in a crash involving a tourist driver in Canterbury.
Father Wayne Healey said the service, held at St Patrick's Basilica in Oamaru yesterday, was "a celebration of little Ruby's life".
A pre-recorded video of pupils from Ardgowan School, which Ruby attended, singing her favourite song was played at the funeral, he said.
After the service, Ruby's pink casket, was taken to a private burial at Oamaru Cemetery where five balloons - representing each year of her short life - were released, Father Healey said.
Ruby died and her parents and sisters were seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision on SH1 near Moeraki on Saturday, February 21.
A 32-year-old Beijing resident, who was granted name suppression, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing injury over the crash.
He appeared in Dunedin District Court on February 23 and will reappear on Friday next week.
- additional reporting, Oamaru Mail, NZME.
