This year is set to end with a far higher road toll than last year, which stood at 366 deaths.
As of Wednesday, 348 people had died on the roads this year, 31 more than at the same time in 2008.
National Road Policing Manager Paula Rose says there have been considerably more fatal crashes this year, many of which have been single occupant deaths.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce says the road toll was always likely to be higher in 2009, largely because there was a lower level of travel in 2008 when petrol prices were higher.
