Road Toll

The road toll continues its downwards trend of the last 15 years or so, dipping below 400 for the first time since 1963. At 387, it is 17 less than the 404 in 2005 and is the lowest since 1960 which was 374..

The number of fatal crashes was up from 340 to 346, so less multiple fatality crashes it seems.

The toll reduction is even more pleasing considering growing population and more travel. To do propoer comparisons, one should look at the toll per million kms travelled. If this isn’t available the next best indicator is the toll per 10,000 vehicles or even per 100,000 population.

The toll per 10,000 vehicles went up and down in the 1950s and 1960s and in 1973 was at 5.9 (843 deaths in total). By 1980 it was down to 3.3, up to 3,7 in 1985, back down to 3.3 in 1990 and since 1990 there has been almost all reduction with 2.5 in 1995, 1.8 in 2000 and 1.3 in 2005. So still reducing, but not as quickly as previously.

How do we compare internationally? Latest figures are from 2004 when NZ was 1.5 per 10,000 vehicles.

Australia 1.2
Canada 1.4
France 1.5
Germany 1.1
Ireland 1.7
Italy 1.3
Japan 1.0
Netherlands 0.9
South Korea 3.6
Sweden 0.9
UK 1.0
US 1.8

So still some way to go.