4 October 2017
Road safety needs to be a higher priority for next govt
Official advice released to the Green Party under the Official Information Act shows that the previous National
Government dismissed an option to make road safety its most important transport priority after being told the road toll
was rising.
Ministry of Transport officials proposed making ‘road safety’ the highest strategic priority for the 2018 Transport
Strategy, saying it would increase safety benefits (i.e. by saving lives and reducing serious injuries) by 17 percent.1
However, National chose ‘economic growth and productivity’ as its ‘key priority’ in its transport strategy.2
This comes on the back of analysis showing that 2017 is likely to become the deadliest year on the road since 2010 and the fourth year in a row that the
road toll has risen.
“Effectively, the previous National Government decided that faster journeys for freight trucks were more important than
saving lives," said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.
“The next government needs to commit to a goal of zero harm on our roads to address the rapidly rising number of people
being killed on them.
“The released documents also show some councils were concerned that expensive state highway projects were squeezing
funding for smaller high-value, safety improvements.3
“National’s been obsessed with a building a few very expensive motorways and this has come at the cost of safety
improvements on local roads that could’ve saved lives.
“Road deaths involving heavy vehicles have been rapidly rising, up 63 percent since 2013.
“A commitment by government to move greater amounts of freight by rail and sea would help save lives on our road," said
Ms Genter.
Examples of high-value safety projects yet to receive funding 2015-2018ProjectRegionBenefit Cost RatioState Highway 1
Hatepe Hill to TurangiWaikato/Taupo5SH1
Puketarata to Manawatu BoundayWaikato5SH1 Putararu to TokoroaWaikato5SH1 Upper Atiamuri to WairakeiWaikato5SH3 Te Awamutu to OtorohongaWaikato5SH2 Wainui Rd to Opotiki Bay of Plenty5SH30: Te Teko to Awakeri Bay of Plenty5Wanganui-Whangaehu Safety ImprovementsWhanganui3 - 4.9
[1] See highlighted text on page 9 and 18 of attached OIA documents.
[2] See page 9 of the government’s 2018 Draft Transport Strategy.
[3] See highlighted text on page 22 of the attached OIA.
ENDS