Road toll out of gas

High petrol prices and an economic downturn are being credited with tipping the road toll toward its lowest level since records began.

As of last night, 241 people had died on the roads this year, 37 fewer than at the same time last year and 22 fewer than at the same time in 2006 - the safest year since records began in 1965.

One theory for the drop is high petrol prices, which have some motorists driving less and others driving slower to conserve fuel.

The toll has road safety experts cautiously optimistic a new low will be set.

"We are pretty pleased with how it's going, but we ultimately celebrate at the end of the year and not before," said David Eyre, the Transport Ministry's manager of safety management.

The road toll has been falling for more than a decade but increased to 422 in 2007, the first increase in five years.

Experts point to the economic downturn as a main factor in the turnaround this year, with record petrol prices forcing people out of private vehicles and on to public transport.

"There is a connection to the economic conditions. There is a definite correlation between the amount of trips and the amount of crashes," Mr Eyre said.

"What we are worried about ... is if petrol prices start going down and the economy starts to turn, the road toll could turn back.

"What we want is a low road toll and a booming economy."

Significantly, the number of fatal crashes has also dropped. There had been 251 fatal crashes at the same time last year. As of last night, there had been 218.

The figures are even more remarkable considering that in February the road toll was heading in the wrong direction - 41 deaths were more than double those recorded in February 2007 and more than the previous two years combined.

Motorcycle deaths have increased, one of two black spots offered up by the statistics.

The national road policing manager, Superintendent Paula Rose, said a drink-drive blitz would tackle a rise in alcohol-related deaths.

"I am optimistic that, if drivers remain positive over the last couple of months, we will be mourning fewer dead at the end of the year."

The Government has set a tough goal of halving the road toll by 2040.

- © Fairfax NZ News