Wellington - Falling petrol prices helped reduce the number of deaths on New Zealand's roads last year to the lowest figure in nearly half a century, the transport ministry reported on Thursday.

The 2008 road toll was 359, well down from 421 the previous year and 393 in 2006 and the lowest since 1959. Petrol in New Zealand is now at its cheapest for three years.

Transport ministry spokesman David Crawford said education campaigns, law enforcement and better car and road designs were also factors in the falling road toll, although it remains above an official target of no more than 300 by next year. (dpa)