New Zealand is set for its lowest annual toll of road deaths since 1952 - the last year in which fewer than 300 people were killed in vehicle crashes.
Despite a grim holiday road toll of 15 deaths since Christmas Eve, the annual figure stands this morning at 284 people killed.
That compares with 375 road deaths last year, the second-lowest toll since 1960.
The toll peaked at 843 deaths in 1973, leading to the first drink-drive blitzes followed by anti-speeding and pro-seat belt campaigns.
National road policing manager Superintendent Paula Rose described this year's dramatic improvement as "pretty amazing" and something for all New Zealanders to be proud of.
Yesterday, two people died and at least three children were injured following a head-on crash on the Kapiti Coast.
The crash happened about 2.45pm at an intersection with State Highway 1 just north of Paraparaumu.
One person died at the scene but another died shortly after being prepared for transfer to Wellington Hospital. Another person was in a critical condition, one in a serious condition and three children had moderate to serious injuries.
The official holiday period, which began at 4pm on December 23, does not end until 6am on January 4.
• The Otago Daily Times understands the man killed in a car crash between Lake Paringa and Lake Moeraki, on the West Coast, on Wednesday, was David Henry Morris (82), of Dunedin.
Mr Morris died at the scene and a German national, aged 53, died on the way to hospital.
The driver of the car Mr Morris was in, his son, remains in a stable condition in Dunedin Hospital following surgery.
Police would last night still not confirm the identities of the two people who died in the two-car collision.
