Road Safety

Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts 

• In the year ending June 2008, 419 people were killed on the roads and 16,013 were injured. 
• Around three quarters of these deaths and injuries involved drivers or passengers, the other quarter involved motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.
• Speed and alcohol are the major contributing factors to motor vehicle crashes. Excessive speed contributes to aroung 30% of fatal road crashes and alcohol is a contributing factor in around 30% of fatal road crashes.

The Ministry of Transport's Motor Vehicle Crash Data 2008 provides a brief explanation of the source of the crash data used by engineers, researchers, road safety practitioners and police makers in New Zealand. 

Up-to-date statistics on road fatalities in New Zealand are provided by the New Zealand Transport Agency

The Social Cost of Road Crashes and Injuries

The Ministry of Transport produce an annual update of the Social Cost of Road Crashes and Injuries  . This provides a measure of the total cost of road crashes to the nation. It includes loss of life and life quality, loss of productivity, medical, legal and court property damage costs.

The total social cost of motor vehicle injury crashes in 2007 has been estimated at approximately $3.83 billion at June 2008 prices. The breakdowns by injury severity are $1.42 billion for fatalities, $1.57 billion for serious injuries and $0.84 billion for minor injuries.

National Road Safety Strategy

The Road Safety to 2010 Strategy provides a direction for road safety in New Zealand and describes the results the government wants to achieve by 2010. It sets out the government's balanced approach to road safety using initiatives built around the three Es - Engineering, Education and Enforcement.

Road Safety Issues in Taranaki

• New Plymouth District

in 2007 there were 8 deaths, 46 serious casualties and 260 minor casualties as a result of motor vehicle crashes in New Plymouth District.

Intersections, alcohol, speed and bends (loss of control) were identified as major road safety issues for the district.

• South Taranaki & Stratford Districts

In 2007 there were 3 deaths, 31 serious casualties and 112 minor casualties as a result of motor vehicle crashes.

intersections, alcohol, speed and bends (loss of control) were identified as major road safety issues for South Taranaki & Stratford.

Land Transport New Zealand District Road Safety Reports

Land Transport New Zealand has prepared a New Plymouth Road Safety Issues Report based on reported crash data and trends for the 2003-2007 period.  

The intent of the report is to highlight the key road safety issues and be a resource to identify possible ways to reduce the number of road deaths and injuries in the New Plymouth District.

Land Transport New Zealand has also also produced a South Taranaki & Stratford Road Safety Issues Report for the 2003-2007 period.