Updated 5.05pm: Concerns over fatal crashes involving tourist drivers on New Zealand roads have prompted a new website.

The Tourism Industry Association has today launched the Drive Safe website to teach visitors about road rules and etiquette.

Chief executive Chris Roberts says it's about keeping people safe.

"There's currently no evidence that a visiting diver is any more likely to crash, but we do want to keep them as safe as possible."

But Dog and Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson doesn't believe it'll work.

"What does work is making them pass a competency test before they can rent a car."

Clive Matthew-Wilson says rental car companies are failing to address the real cause of foreign driver crashes, continuing to rent cars without electronic stability control.

"It's relatively rare for a vehicle with electronic stability control to in fact have an accident."

Clive Matthew-Wilson says people shouldn't be able to rent on their first day in the country.

The website will provide advice about our long and winding roads.

Roberts says it'll encourage visitors to be well-rested ahead of long journeys.

"Driving New Zealand can actually take a lot longer than expected because of our narrow and winding roads."

NZTA and rental care companies are supporting the website.