The head of New Zealand's Rental Vehicle Association says it is ''disappointing'' not all rental companies in Queenstown have signed up to a trial information-sharing network.
The network, dubbed a ''blacklist'' by media, was launched in the resort earlier this year.
Its aim is to share information to prevent anyone who has had a rental vehicle contract cancelled because of their driving from hiring another car.
RVA chief executive Barry Kidd said the system appeared to be working, although more analysis was still to be done.
''We're pretty confident we've actually probably prevented some people re-renting, or renting another vehicle, who operators have deemed to be a high risk and it's probably prevented potentially a serious accident or even a fatality on a couple of occasions.
''It's not foolproof - it's an 80% solution to the problem - but it's probably helped.
''I think one of the other things is it's raised awareness that if you get your vehicle taken off you, the chances of you getting another one are reasonably limited.''
However, because not all companies in the resort had signed up to the scheme, there was always a chance ''high risk'' drivers would be able to hire another car.
About 70% of the resort's rental companies were part of the network and that included all major companies, Mr Kidd said.
''It requires a buy-in of the operators [and] there are still operators that aren't part of it, which is disappointing.
It was likely the network would be extended to include West Coast rental companies before Christmas, Mr Kidd said.
Initial information from the Queenstown trial indicated those who had contracts cancelled comprised a ''greater cross-section of nationalities than some commentators might expect'', Mr Kidd said.
''Probably the common element is people who are used to driving on the right-hand side of the road - they seem to be more of an issue - but we'll know more once we actually dive into it and get some more details about it.
''I think the key thing ... is that the industry, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), police and a number of other organisations are working collaboratively to do a whole range of things to fix what is quite a complex problem.''
NZTA Southern Regional director Jim Harland said other initiatives under the Visiting Drivers Project were ''well under way''.
''There is no single solution or single organisation that can improve road safety for visitors and others on the road.
''It takes a range of organisations working together across all parts of the system, including roads and roadsides, speed, vehicles and road use.''
In practical terms, the project had a specific focus on Otago, Southland and the West Coast.
In Otago and Southland 50km of rumble strips are being added, along with 950km of highway marked with keep-left arrows, 140km of no-passing markings and 16 ''traffic courtesy signs'', encouraging slower drivers to let traffic pass.
On the West Coast 50km of centre-line rumble strips will be installed, along with 12 billboards with keep-left, safer-speed and driver-fatigue messages.
Coming into the busy summer months, the New Zealand Police would also have a visible presence on certain key tourist routes.
Road Policing acting national manager Inspector Pete McKennie said the police were aware of the concerns surrounding visitor drivers.
''But the percentage of visiting drivers who have difficulties on our roads is very low and when they do crash, it is normally for the same reasons as New Zealand drivers.''
Mr Harland said the number of international visitors coming to New Zealand over the past 10 years had risen about 30%, but the number of crashes involving overseas licence holders had stayed ''relatively constant or decreased'' over that period.
Last year, overseas drivers were involved - but not necessarily at fault - in 16 fatal crashes and 536 injury crashes.
In the same year there were 268 fatal crashes on New Zealand roads and more than 8600 injury crashes.
''However, any crash on our roads is one too many and that's why so many different organisations are taking action to reduce the risk for all road users,'' Mr Harland said.
Visiting Driver Project initiatives at a glance
Tourism New Zealand:
• Road safety training module for overseas travel agents
• Road safety leaflet accompanying Chinese visitor visas
• Dedicated website on driving in New Zealand
• Changes to Google Maps to better reflect travel times
Air New Zealand:
• ''Driving in New Zealand'' app, available on long-haul flights
• Screening videos focused on driving in New Zealand in a range of languages on all international flights
Rental vehicle operators:
• Three-stage code of conduct targeting pre-arrival, vehicle checkout and on-road periods
• Information safety in vehicles
• Queenstown information sharing network, targeting high-risk drivers, ongoing
Accommodation providers:
• Have access to the Tourism Industry Association's toolkit with information and resources to help promote road safety conversations with visitors
