New Zealanders are some of the worst drivers in the world, a top road cop believes.

Nineteen people lost their lives on New Zealand roads over the Christmas and New Year period. The youngest victim was 2-years-old.

The official holiday road toll began on Friday, December 23, and ended on Wednesday, January 4.

Sergeant George White, Taranaki road policing supervisor, reports people cutting corners, running red lights, not honouring stop signs, following too close, or travelling to fast on dangerous roads every day.

White relates that from his own experience overseas, traffic can be chaos, but the driving's a lot safer - even in the United States.

"Following distances were huge, nobody sped. I travelled five thousand miles and never saw a crash. I came back to New Zealand and travelled another 2000 kilometres and saw five.

"That's got to tell you something."

Last year's holiday road toll saw 12 people killed on New Zealand roads, with 71 people seriously injured and 296 minor injuries, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Stuart Nash, the Labour Party's police spokesperson, has called for new police minister Paula Bennett to show some leadership and increase police numbers on New Zealand roads.

"Anyone who drives a car knows that as soon as you see police presence on the road, the first thing you do is check your speedometer, you check your following distance, and you drive very very safely," Nash said.

"A higher police presence on the road actually moderates bad behaviour."