These include more rumble strips, no-passing markings and keep-left arrows on state highways in Otago and Southland and the safety project will be extended to the West Coast.
Speaking after a Queenstown meeting yesterday at which Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced the changes, North Otago Mayor Gary Kircher held a copy of Ruby's funeral programme.
Ruby was killed in a crash involving a foreign driver at Moeraki on February 21. Her parents and two sisters were injured.
Mr Kircher said his community was ''hurting a lot at the moment''.
''Wee Ruby ... got buried this morning.
''For us, it's been a local family that's well-known throughout the community, who has been very affected.
''[For them it is] a legacy that's going to be with them forever.''
The North Otago community, many of whom were angry, wanted to see ''more done''.
Mr Kircher said, as he understood it, the crash that killed Ruby might have been prevented had there been keep-left arrows on the road and other similar measures.
While there were several factors involved in crashes - some harder to solve - ''where they're easier to solve, let's get on''.
Also at yesterday's meeting were representatives from New Zealand Police, NZ Transport Agency, Southland Mayor Gary Tong, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden and Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper.
Mr Foss said the meeting was a ''stock take'' of the Government's Visiting Drivers Signature Project, and an opportunity to announce the changes.
Safety improvements on state highways around Otago and Southland, initially planned over the next two or three years, would instead be completed by July 1.
That included 50km of centreline rumble strips, 140km of no-passing markings and 200km of highway marked with keep-left arrows.
''The Government recognises that many people are concerned with poor driving behaviour on challenging roads in and around popular tourist destinations, particularly in the lower South Island,'' he said.
''That is why we are extending the [project] to include the West Coast - an area that attracts a large number of tourists.''
The issue of visiting drivers had come to the fore recently, particularly in the lower South Island, and while the measures would work over time, ''there is no silver bullet'', Mr Foss said.
''There have been some tragedies and, first and foremost, any family affected, anybody associated with someone who's been fatally injured ... or seriously injured, is one too many.''
While statistics showed New Zealand drivers ''aren't all that flash, by and large'', the prevalence of visiting drivers involved in crashes and near misses in the region ''have bought this seriously to our attention''.
Mr Foss said he could ''totally understand'' the frustration felt by some resident drivers. He urged people not to resort to ''vigilante enforcement'' but to call police.
''The issues in and around people taking, stopping vehicles, taking keys, that's just got to stop.
''Only in extreme ... circumstances should that happen and could that happen.
''The Kiwi way is actually to help people - if someone's stuck on a roundabout, has gone the wrong way, maybe causing some problems, the Kiwi way is to go, 'G'day mate, I'll give you a hand', and have that discussion, as opposed to vigilante enforcement.
''That's not the way to go.''
Asked about foreign drivers, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett said it was important for motorists to keep ''clear heads'' and not take the law into their own hands.
Ms Bennett, who was visiting the Highlands Motorsport Park at Cromwell, said drivers needed to stay calm.
Vigilante behaviour was harming New Zealand's reputation as a tourism destination for overseas visitors.
''We've already had comments from certain organisations, Asian organisations in particular, saying their members are a bit frightened about driving here, thinking they could be mugged.''
Ruby's uncle Chris Cant said her death was totally ''avoidable and unnecessary'' and the Government's announcement did not go far enough, The Timaru Herald reported.
Stricter laws should be looked at and funding was needed to educate foreign drivers, he said.
