Economy drives high road toll, but technology can lower it

Economy drives high road toll, but technology can lower it

New Zealand’s sharp increase in annual road deaths is mostly the result of a booming economy, says the car review websitedogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an active road safety campaigner, says:

“Multiple studies have shown that the road toll falls during recessions and rises during economic booms. Scientists believe that a booming economy means that the highest risk drivers have more money to buy petrol and make long trips. People become less cautious in their behaviour. When the economy falls, people have less money for fuel and become more cautious. So, the road toll goes up and down with the economy. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

The International Road Traffic and Accident Database estimates that the global recession contributed to two-thirds of the reduction in the road toll between 2008 and 2010.

Matthew-Wilson says the differences in the road tolls in different countries generally reflect the state of the economy.

“While Australia’s economy continues to slide, New Zealand’s has stayed reasonably robust, which goes a long way to explaining why Australia’s road toll has gone down, while New Zealand’s has gone up.”

Enforcement a failure

Matthew-Wilson says the police must admit that their anti-speeding campaign hasn’t worked.

“80% of fatalities occur below the legal speed limit. Of the 20% of fatalities that occur above the speed limit, most involve a tiny group of drunks, motorcyclists or young working-class males who live on the edge of the law."

"There is simply no evidence that rigid enforcement of speed limits has made the slightest difference to the behaviour of these high risk drivers, but it has alienated huge numbers of motorists.”

Tourist drivers a serious problem

Matthew-Wilson says economics is also contributing to the high number of accidents involving tourists.

“Healthy economies overseas have powered an increase in tourism, which inevitably leads to a increase in tourist-related accidents.”

Technology saves lives

Matthew-Wilson says the most effective way of lowering the road toll is to change the roads and cars.

“In the 1980s, the Auckland harbour bridge used to suffer one serious road accident every week. After a concrete barrier was installed down the middle, most of the serious accidents stopped immediately. There wasn’t one less idiot or drunk driver, yet the accidents stopped, simply because the road was changed in a way that prevented mistakes from becoming fatalities.”

ENDS

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