The road toll for the year stands at 318 - more than 40
higher than the 2011 tally.
Last year saw the lowest toll in 50 years, with 284 killed on
the nation's roads.
Four people have died during this holiday period, which
started at 4pm on Christmas Eve and will finish at 6am on
Thursday.
On Friday, Scott Addison (22) was killed at Ngapara, near
Oamaru. Police said Mr Addison lost control of his car which
slammed into a tree. Preliminary inquiries indicated speed
and alcohol were major contributing factors in the crash.
Just after midday on Christmas Day the first fatality was
recorded when Chinese national Rongmei Wang was killed in a
two-car collision in Hamilton.
On Boxing Day, father-of-one Shane Curtis Tosh, 24, died when
his Honda left the Dacre-Lorneville road north of
Invercargill.
Mr Tosh was the sole occupant of the car, which flipped and
landed in a paddock about 6.30am. The funeral was being held
today for the meat plant employee.
Just hours after Mr Tosh died, a 58-year-old Taumaranui man
was killed when his car careered down a bank. Police are yet
to name him.
A 23-year-old man from North Canterbury remains in a critical
condition after being thrown from his vehicle when it crashed
into a pole early on Friday.
The accident happened in the town of Harwarden, near Lake
Sumner Forest Park just after midnight.
The car came to rest about 40m down the road after the crash.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Rowan Cai Parker was farewelled today
in Owaka, in the Catlins.
The popular student was killed last week when he lost control
of a quad bike in the Chaslands area of South Otago and drove
over a cliff - falling 150m on to rocks.
His death did not count towards the official holiday road
toll as the crash did not happen on public roads.
Neither did the death of 3-year-old Te Haeata Pitiroi, who
was run over in a Hatepe driveway south of Taupo on Christmas
Eve.
STAY SAFE
* Slow down in communities, on rural roads, and drive to the
conditions.
* Don't drive after consuming any amount of alcohol or taking
drugs, and be careful about driving the morning after
drinking by planning ahead.
* Always wear a seatbelt, make sure everyone else in the
vehicle is wearing a seatbelt and that children are in
correctly-fitted child restraints. Also make sure you have
done vehicle checks such as checking lights, tyres, mirrors
and windscreen wipers before setting off.
* Have your phone switched off or on silent and out of reach.
Minimise other distractions.
* Take breaks every two hours on long journeys. Don't drive
if you are tired, ill or stressed.
- Rebecca Quilliam of APNZ
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.