Police are urging drivers to take more care on the roads as the number of people killed so far this year reaches 151 - exceeding how many had died at this point in 2018.
On Friday, police Supt Steve Greally, National Road Policing manager, warned drivers to take more responsibility when in control of a vehicle.
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"It is extremely disappointing that the road toll has surpassed the number of deaths than this time last year.
"Drivers must be responsible by giving the road their full attention, driving to the conditions, not driving drunk, drugged, or fatigued and ensuring the use of seatbelts."
The toll hit 151 after a person was killed on Friday afternoon when a bus crashed into a creek north of Whangarei.
Last year was the most deadly on our roads since 2009, with 379 people being killed. At this point in 2018, 137 people had died.
On average, seven people died and more than 50 are reported as seriously injured every week on Kiwi roads, while the crashes have a "social cost" of $84 million per week, or nearly $4.7 billion each year.
Greally said speed was a crucial factor in determining the severity of a crash and the injuries afflicted to people involved.
"The reality is that seatbelts save lives, being properly restrained reduces your chance of death or serious injury in a crash by 60 percent in the front seat and 44 percent in the back seat."
He said everyone makes mistakes, but simple mistakes shouldn't result in death or serious injury.
"That’s why we’re working to deliver safety improvements through measures like installation of side and median safety barriers, rumble strips, shoulder widening, better signage, level crossings, and speed management."
There have been several crashes this year which resulted in the loss of multiple people.
In late April, eight people died when two cars collided in wet conditions north of Taupō at Atiamuri. Earlier that month, five were killed not far away on Tirohanga Rd after crashing into a tree.
In January, three were killed after a police pursuit through Christchurch CBD.
After the Atiamuri crash, National Party's Simon Bridges said the current Government had cancelled improvements to roads - something denied by Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter.
"The number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads increased by about 55 percent between 2013 and 2018, that was under his watch," she told Newshub.
"Why are there not median barriers already on more roads? Because National cut funding for effective safety improvements to pour billions into urban fringe motorways in Auckland and Wellington.
New Zealand's road toll peaked in the mid-1980s at almost 800. It trended downwards from then, hitting a decades-low of 253 in 2013.
About $1.4 billion is being invested over three years into the Government's Safe Roads and Roadsides programme, Genter said, including new median barriers, rumble strips and shoulder-widening.
Newshub.
