Vigilance from motorists is still very much needed with the provisional road toll for 2014 coming in at 297 fatalities.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says each number in the road toll represents a lost life and someone 'who will forever be missed by their family, friends and community”.

The scene of the fatal Te Puna car crash which occurred on last week December 27. Released today, the provisional road toll for 2014 is 297. Photo: File

The New Year has also gotten off to a horrible start with a death early this morning on the southern motorway in Auckland.

Assistant Police Commissioner Dave Cliff says not only has one person lost their life, other passengers were injured and a number of families will be effected by this one crash.

'This is not the start to the year anyone wanted,” says Dave. 'We now have 11 people who have lost their life over this holiday period.

'While we have come a long way since the worst recorded death toll in 1973 when 843 people were killed, any death on a New Zealand road is one too many.”

Dave says generally most Kiwis know and take on board safety messages such as wearing seatbelts, staying alert, driving within the speed limits, ensuring they are well rested and sober.

But everyday people make everyday mistakes and unfortunately a mistake while driving can lead to death and injury.

Long term road toll trends are positive and the number of deaths has been reducing over time, but international comparisons show there is still room to substantially reduce road death even further.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says provisional data for 2014 indicates drugs and alcohol contributed to about 25 per cent of fatal and 21 per cent of serious injury crashes.

The data also shows about 21 per cent of drivers and 33 per cent of passengers killed in car crashes in 2014 were not wearing seatbelts or using an appropriate child restraint.

'That's the real impact of crashes on our roads,” says Craig. 'Let's also not forget that for every fatality, there are dozens more people hurt, many of them seriously, leaving them and their families to cope with life-long and debilitating injuries.”

'Wearing a seatbelt can be the difference between life and death,” he says. 'Drivers, passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians can all help make the road a safer place by following the rules.

'Together we help ensure the road toll continues its overall decline.”

The 2013 road toll, which was the lowest in 60 years, was reduced by one to 253 following a recent coroner's ruling.

The Ministry of Transport releases an annual report on motor vehicle crashes, based on the previous year's data. To view the latest report click here.