Four hundred and twenty two people died on New Zealand roads last year – 29 more than in 2006.
The 2007 toll is an increase on the record low toll of 2006. Ministry of Transport spokeswoman Anna Gilbert said there
have been nearly 4,600 deaths and 132,000 injuries from crashes on our roads over the past 10 years.
More than 35,000 people have been killed on the road since New Zealand's first known fatal crash in Christchurch in
1908. The deadliest year on our roads was 1973, when 843 were killed. The lowest road toll in over 40 years was in 2006.
As recently as 1990 there were 729 road deaths in New Zealand each year. Since then annual road deaths have dropped by
42 percent, in spite of a 45 percent increase in the number of vehicles on the road and a 24 percent increase in
population.
The Government has set a target of no more than 300 road deaths per year by 2010 and proposed a target of no more than
200 fatalities per year by 2040. Annual road fatalities will need to be brought down by 29 percent over the next two
years to reach the first target.
Preliminary analysis shows that driving too fast for the conditions and drink-driving were the two biggest factors in
fatal crashes last year, with excessive speed a factor in 30 percent and drink-driving contributing to 30 percent.
Twenty five percent of the vehicle occupants killed last year were not wearing seatbelts.
Tables with historical crash statistics, fatality rates and regional breakdowns follow this statement or are attached
below.
ENDS
ROAD TOLL TABLES
Road Deaths Update as at Monday, 31 December 2007
2007 Road Deaths year to date: 422 At the same time last year: 393
Key Statistics 2006 2007 Number of fatal crashes to date: 350 376 Males killed: 265 282 Females killed: 128 140 Fatalities 2005 2006 2007 January 30 40 39 February 52 27 19 March 37 31 39 April 37 27 38 May 44 35 28 June 32 32 38 July 30 27 38 August 22 36 32 September 25 31 30 October 27 40 34 November 28 21 41 December 41 46 46 TOTAL 405 393 422 Casualty Types 2005 2006 2007 Drivers 202 192 201 Passengers 123 107 118 Motor Cycle Riders 34 35 37 Motor Cycle Pillions 3 3 4 Pedestrians 31 44 46 Pedal Cyclists 12 9 12 Other - 3 4 Unknown - - - TOTAL 405 393 422 Casualty Ages 2005 2006 2007 0-14 yrs 31 26 27 15-19 yrs 85 62 65 20-24 yrs 50 41 66 25-39 yrs 66 78 97 40-59 yrs 102 94 91 60 + yrs 70 91 74 unknown 1 1 2 TOTAL 405 393 422
New Zealand Road Deaths Data, 1990-2006
Deaths per: Year Road deaths Population (million) Vehicles (million) 100,000 population 10,000 vehicles 1990 729 3.41 2.20 21.4 3.3 1991 650 3.45 2.22 18.8 2.9 1992 646 3.49 2.23 18.5 2.9 1993 600 3.52 2.24 17.0 2.7 1994 580 3.58 2.29 16.2 2.5 1995 582 3.64 2.35 16.0 2.5 1996 514 3.72 2.38 13.8 2.2 1997 539 3.76 2.39 14.3 2.3 1998 501 3.79 2.44 13.2 2.1 1999 508 3.81 2.51 13.3 2.0 2000 462 3.83 2.60 12.1 1.8 2001 455 3.85 2.63 11.8 1.7 2002 405 3.94 2.71 10.3 1.5 2003 461 4.01 2.80 11.5 1.6 2004 435 4.06 2.92 10.7 1.5 2005 405 4.10 3.03 9.9 1.3 2006 393 4.14 3.12 9.5 1.3 2007 422 4.23 3.19 10.0 1.3
Road Deaths Update: Local Government Region
Local Government Region 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Northland 33 30 23 30 30 Auckland 81 93 77 84 61 Waikato 79 72 93 65 90 Bay of Plenty 52 36 25 36 35 Gisborne & Hawkes Bay 33 18 41 29 34 Taranaki 10 15 13 12 10 Manawatu / Wanganui 31 40 32 31 41 Wellington 34 32 20 32 15 Nelson / Marlborough 15 18 8 10 10 West Coast 5 10 6 4 6 Canterbury 52 45 45 34 55 Otago 21 18 16 16 24 Southland 15 8 6 10 11 Total 461 435 405 393 422
Anna Gilbert,
Media & Communication Adviser,
Ministry of Transport
Source: Ministry of Transport
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