It is a growth industry no-one wants but Waitaki district has.
Since 2013, the number of people dying or seriously injured in car crashes has steadily increased, according to figures supplied by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
For 2013, there were two crashes where people died and 14 crashes where 15 people were seriously injured.
In 2014, one person died and 19 people were seriously injured in 18 crashes.
In 2015, six people died on Waitaki roads and 21 people from 12 crashes were seriously injured.
And in 2016, with data supplied going to November 17, eight people died and 25 were seriously injured.
The figures do not include the 39-year-old Chinese national Miss Li, who died on November 22 near the turnoff to the Moeraki Boulders.
When asked what was being done to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes in the Waitaki district, Otago coastal road policing manager Inspector Steve Larking said in an emailed response in December police would continue to focus on all high-risk journeys across the highway network.
Police would also maintain a presence on State Highway 1 in Waitaki, he said.
"All drivers have a personal responsibility to make their journey as safe as possible for themselves and other road users."
Insp Larking stated in his reply alcohol, speed, failing to drive within lanes, crossing the centre line, fatigue and failing to give way as main factors in all crashes police deal with.
Those factors involved in crashes were basically the same whether the driver was on a New Zealand or markeroverseas’ drivers licence. However, overseas drivers rarely featured in crashes involving drink or drugged driving, he said.
"There has been a significant increase in — and a large number of visitors to — the Waitaki district and to New Zealand. In Waitaki between 2011 and 2015, there were 52 fatal or serious injury crashes. Of these 52 crashes, 13% involved an overseas driver. This, of course, means that a person driving on a New Zealand licence was involved in 87% of all fatal and serious injury crashes between 2011 and 2015 in the Waitaki area."
An NZTA spokeswoman said in an emailed statement the crash data was categorised on the level of severity.
If there was a crash where one person was killed, and two people were seriously injured, it was considered and counted as a fatal crash.
She said if there was a crash where one person was seriously injured and two people were not injured, that would be a serious injury crash.
