Police say safer cars, better road design and tougher policing have all contributed to a historic low road toll for 2013.



The toll of 254 deaths - the lowest since 1950 - could be put down to joint efforts from a number of organisations, Assistant Commissioner Dave Cliff said.



"There's no one reason this 60 year low figure has occurred - it is the result of many factors including better legislation, enhanced enforcement, safer vehicles and better road design," he said.



"It also reflects the fact that the majority of Kiwi drivers get the message about speed, alcohol and seat belts which police and our road safety partners have been relentlessly talking about in recent years."



Since the November launch of the Safer Summer campaign, which included a reduced speed tolerance of 4kmh, the lowest December road toll since 1965 was also achieved.



There were 23 fatalities in December.



But Cliff said the figures were "no great cause for celebration", with hundreds of families still affected by deaths and serious injuries from crashes in 2013.



"Because of this police and our road safety partners will continue to be 100 per cent focused on preventing as many crashes as possible in 2014," he said.



"There is no room for complacency - police want fewer crashes, fatalities and serious injuries in 2014."