Mayors in Taranaki want highways there upgraded, following new ratings which rank the province's open roads as the country's least safe.
The ratings have been produced by Government agencies and the Automobile Association. Stretches of highway are scored with one to five stars, depending on safety features.
Taranaki has 749km of state highway, of which 59% have a two star rating.
The roads were marked down because of hazards like roadside objects, narrow lanes and uneven surfaces.
The Mayors of the New Plymouth and South Taranaki districts say they will highlight the poor ratings when lobbying the Government for better highways.
