Nearly three-quarters of fatal and serious injury crashes in the Wanganui district happen not on state highways but on local roads.
New Zealand Transport Agency data shows 74 per cent of crashes in the area occurred on local roads in the six years to the end of 2014, with the remainder on state highways.
Just under two thirds of fatal and serious injury crashes occurred in urban speed zones as opposed to rural speed zones.
Leading causes of crashes in the area were poor observation, poor handling, alcohol and speed.
Wanganui police area commander, Inspector Steve Mastrovich, said preventing and reducing serious crashes and deaths on roads was a priority for all police officers. Enforcement and education was conducted by all officers whether they were on the roads or patrolling the streets.
Mr Mastrovich said police enforced speed limits set by central and local government to ensure roads were safe for all who travelled them.
"We do this by using a range of tools including mobile and fixed speed cameras, radar and laser speed detection devices, traffic stops, and high visibility patrols."
He said what happened on roads was up to individual decisions made by road users, despite police enforcement and education.
Motorists could help police keep roads safe by simply being responsible and considerate.
"This means sticking to the sign-posted speed limits, ensuring you and your passengers wear seatbelts, driving to the conditions and being alert, taking a break if you are tired, not using your cell phone while driving, and never consuming alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel."
The impact road crashes had on families was tragic and long-lasting, he said.
Nationwide, nearly two thirds of crashes occurred on local roads with the remainder on state highways. Just over half occurred in rural speed zones with the remainder in urban speed zones.
Urban speed zones were roads where the posted speed limits were less than 80 kilometres per hour. Rural speed zones were roads where the posted speed limit was 80 kilometres per hour or more.
NZTA road safety director Ernst Zollner said it was impossible to generalise about what type of road was safest, because the quality and standards within state highways and local roads varied greatly.
Road factors made up only a small percentage of the factors in crashes.
Mr Zollner said the data showed driver behaviour and environmental factors played a greater part.
"We do know that no matter what causes a crash, your chances of avoiding serious injury or death are better on the roads which separate traffic and are designed to protect road users from mistakes in ways that rural roads and highways are less able to do."
The NZTA noted there were crashes that went unreported, despite the legal requirement to report all injury and property damage crashes where the owner had not been contacted.