With the Government in holiday mode there is not much information coming out of the Beehive ‘latest news’ at this time of year, apart from releases on the rod toll.
Provisional figure for 2018 road deaths
Police Minister Stuart Nash has extended his sympathies to the families and friends of the 380 people who died in vehicle accidents during 2018.
Mr Nash has confirmed the provisional number of road deaths for 2018 has exceeded the annual toll for 2017, when 378 people lost their lives. It is the worst annual figure since 2009, when 384 people were killed.
The provisional figures show fatalities are made up of the following demographics:
- 49 per cent were the driver of the vehicle and 24 per cent were passengers
- 14 per cent were motorbike riders or pillion passengers
- 11 per cent were pedestrians
- Just over one per cent were cyclists
- 66 per cent were male and 34 per cent were female
- 28 per cent were in the sixty-plus age group
- 14 per cent were children or teenagers
- 13 per cent were aged between 20 and 24 years
- 48 per cent died in crashes on the open road on state highways
- The region with the largest share of fatalities was Waikato at 17 per cent; followed by Auckland and Canterbury with 14 per cent each; and Manawatu/Wanganui on 12 per cent
More information is on the Ministry of Transport website: https://www.transport.govt.nz/mot-resources/road-safety-resources/road-deaths/
Two thirds of deaths were men. Motorbikes are relatively dangerous.
Waikato is the most dangerous region. Interesting to see the toll less in Auckland, although a lot of the roads in Auckland are either motorways with separated lanes or urban streets.
Curiously the Canterbury toll is high, but the Otago toll is low, with most deaths on State Highway 1 north and south of Dunedin.
This toll has since increased to 382 –Death in hospital lifts 2018 road toll (ODT) A man injured in a Nelson car crash last month has died – taking last year’s road toll up to 382.
Let’s make 2019 different and take care on our roads
After another tragic year on New Zealand roads, Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter is emphasising Government’s commitment to improving the country’s road safety record.
“It is staggering and unnecessary loss of life – equivalent in scale to a major airline crash,” said Julie Anne Genter.
“It is yet another reminder of the need to make substantial improvements to road safety in New Zealand.
“Many deaths and serious injuries on our roads are preventable.”
‘Are preventable’ keeps getting trotted out with deaths – of course road deaths are ‘preventable’, if no one used cars, or if ten times as much was spent improving road safety. Banning motorbikes would prevent deaths, as would banning male drivers.
This Government is committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries through new thinking, more funding and prioritised action.
“The Government is investing $1.4 billion over three years to make urgent safety improvements across our high-risk roads. On high volume state highways New Zealanders can expect to see more improvements like life-saving median and side barriers and crash-preventing rumble strips.
“This year we will be consulting the public on a new road safety strategy and action plan to drive substantial improvements in road safety in New Zealand,” said Julie Anne Genter.
Road safety is a good thing to invest in. Accidents and deaths have a major impact on many people and families.
Too many people killed over Christmas
The official holiday period has ended with nine people tragically killed in crashes on New Zealand roads. This is three people fewer than the 12 who died last holiday season.
Much of the previous release was repeated.
More information http://www.transport.govt.nz/mot-resources/road-safety-resources/road-deaths/christmasnew-year-holiday-period-road-deaths/
Using roads or streets is one of the biggest risks we take in our lives. Because we travel so much it is easy to take safety for granted.
Unfortunately some deaths are caused by others at no fault of the victims – there is nothing much we can do about this but support Government expenditure on safety measures, and hope like hell it doesn’t happen to ourselves.