A number of initiatives are being put in place to improve the safety of visiting drivers to New Zealand.

In 2014, overseas drivers were involved in, but not necessarily at fault in, 16 fatal crashes and 536 injury crashes.

A number of initiatives have been launched to try and prevent crashes on NZ roads. Photo: File.

In the same year there were 268 fatal crashes on the country's roads in total, and more than 8600 injury crashes.

In response to these figures, a broad package of initiatives designed to improve the safety of visiting drivers, and those they share the road with, is well underway, says the NZ Transport Agency.

The Visiting Drivers Project is delivering road safety programmes aimed at each stage of a visitor's holiday – when they're planning their trip, booking it, in-flight, arriving in New Zealand, and when they are driving on our roads.

The project isbeing delivered by a cross-sector partnership between government and the transport and tourism industries.

'There is no single solution, or single organisation, that can improve road safety for visitors and others on the road,” says NZ Transport Agency's Southern Regional Director, Jim Harland.

'It takes a range of organisations working together across all parts of the system, including roads and roadsides, speed, vehicles and road use.

'The visiting driver initiatives are strengthening all parts of the system and complement each other to collectively achieve a bigger impact.”

The number of international visitors coming to New Zealand over the last ten years has increased by around 30 per cent, and is continuing to grow, with three million people visiting in the past twelve months.

However, the number of crashes involving overseas licence holders has stayed relatively constant or decreased over the last 10 years.

'Any crash on our roads is one too many and that's why so many different organisations are taking action to reduce the risk for all road users,” says Jim.

Pre-departure initiatives include Tourism New Zealand's road safety training module for overseas travel agents, to help them better inform their clients about alternative travel options and what to expect if they choose to drive in New Zealand.

Other measures include a road safety leaflet to accompany Chinese visitor visas via Immigration New Zealand and changes to Google Maps' travel times to be more reflective of our roads.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says they have a unique opportunity to reach people at the stage when they are still planning their holiday.

'The online training module we developed for overseas travel agents has now been completed by more than 2000 agents and is available in seven languages,” says Kevin.

'It is a great resource that helps travel agents provide informed, reliable advice to people planning to drive in New Zealand.”

Air New Zealand has created a ‘Driving in New Zealand'app which is available on long-haul flights and its screening videos on driving in New Zealand, in a range of languages, on all international flights.

'This gives visitors another opportunity to engage with safe driving information before they get in a vehicle here,” says Jim.On arrival, rental vehicle operators and accommodation providers are the face-to-face points of contact.

Initiatives already rolled out include the Tourism Industry Association and Rental Vehicle Association's Code of Practice for rental vehicle operators, which recommends a range of activities including enhanced checks when people rent vehicles.

Accommodation providers have access to the Tourism Industry Association's toolkit, which gives them information and resources to have a road safety conversation with visitors.

On the ground, the Visiting Driver Project has a specific focus in Otago, Southland and on the West Coast, where international visitors make up a significantly large proportion of summer traffic.

NZ Police will have a visible presence on certain key tourist routes.

Acting National Manager Road Policing, Inspector Pete McKennie, says police are aware of the concerns regarding visiting drivers, but the percentage who have difficulties is very low and when they do crash, it is normally for the same reasons as New Zealand drivers.

'If anyone witnesses unsafe driving behaviour they should contact police,” says Pete.

'In the meantime, we're working closely with the transport and tourism sectors across a range of initiatives to help ensure safe travel for all road users. 'People make mistakes, whether they're from New Zealand or overseas.”