Media statement | 1 January 2007

2006 road toll lowest in 46 years

Three hundred and eighty-seven people died on New Zealand roads last year – 17 fewer than in 2005 and the lowest yearly road toll since 1960, when there were 374 road deaths.

While Land Transport NZ is encouraged by the record low toll, spokesman Andy Knackstedt says it is sobering to remember that 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.

As recently as 1990 there were 729 road deaths in New Zealand. Since then annual road deaths have dropped by 47 percent, in spite of a 42 percent increase in the number of vehicles on the road and a 21 percent increase in population.

Government has set a target of no more than 300 road deaths and no more than 4,500 hospitalisations per year by 2010. Annual road fatalities will need to be brought down by 23% over the next four years to reach the 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 28 percent. Twenty-four 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.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager, Safety
Land Transport New Zealand
0212 763 222

or

New Zealand Police
Public Affairs Pager
026 101 082

New Zealand Road Deaths Data, 1990-2006