Transport Minister Steven Joyce is encouraged by the record low road toll in 2008 but says there is no room for complacency on New Zealand’s roads.

The 2008 toll of 359 compares to 421 road deaths in 2007, and is the lowest annual total since 1959.

“It’s good to see the road toll coming down but there are still too many lives lost or ruined on our roads,” says Mr Joyce.

“Most fatal crashes are preventable – with alcohol and speed still the biggest killers on our roads.”

Alcohol was a factor in 34% of deaths and speed was a factor in 36% of deaths in 2008.

It’s likely that record high fuel prices experienced earlier in the year curbed the number of miles driven, helping reduce accident numbers.

International evidence shows economic activity can have an affect on the road toll. As the average number of journeys falls, so does the number of crashes.

Mr Joyce says there are still disturbing trends on the roads.

“The number of people seriously injured has not decreased, staying at around 2,600 per year for the last 10 years, and there has been a recent increase in the number of motorcycle accidents.

“We all need to keep taking real care on our roads, especially through the remainder of this holiday period.

Given that alcohol is believed to be a factor in one-third of road deaths, the government is seeking to reduce the amount of alcohol that can be consumed legally before driving.

New Zealand’s current limit of 80 mg of alchol per 100ml of blood limit is said by researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to result in physical and mental impairments including a driver’s reflexes, reasoning, depth perception, distance acuity, peripheral vision and glare recovery.

Legal blood alcohol limits in some other countries are: Australia, 50 mg, Canada 80 mg, Germany 50 mg, Ireland 80 mg, Japan zero mg, Malaysia 80 mg, Netherlands 50 mg, Singapore 80 mg, Sweden 20 mg, USA 80 mg, UK 80 mg.