Road toll (Australia and New Zealand): Difference between revisions

|url=https://www.roadsafety.gov.au

|title=National Road Safety Strategy

|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia

|archive-date=2025-09-05

|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250905223235/https://www.roadsafety.gov.au/

}}</ref> (Vision Zero).

The National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30 sets a target of 50% reduction in deaths and 30% reduction in serious injuries by 2030.<ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.roadsafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/National-Road-Safety-Strategy-2021-30.pdf

|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250626044455/https://www.roadsafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/National-Road-Safety-Strategy-2021-30.pdf

|archive-date=2025-06-26

|title=National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30

|date=December 2021

|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia

}}

</ref>

|url=https://datahub.roadsafety.gov.au/progress-reporting/monthly-road-deaths

|title=Monthly road deaths

|author=Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics

|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia

}}</ref><ref name=”InjuryMattersGuidelines”/><ref name=”NZRoadSafetyDeaths”/>, “road fatalities”<ref name=”InjuryMattersGuidelines”/><ref>{{cite web

|url=https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/road-safety-statistics/resource/a5f24a26-f29b-4963-97ab-4d67a95836a5

|title=Latest weekly road fatality report

|publisher=Queensland Government

{{cite web

{{cite web

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/23/christmas-holiday-road-toll-benign-term-road-deaths

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/23/christmas-holiday-road-toll-benign-term-road-deaths

==New Zealand==

==New Zealand==

New Zealand reports a daily, monthly, quarterly and annual nationwide road toll,<ref>{{cite web |title=Road crash statistics|publisher=Ministry of Transport, New Zealand|url=http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadtoll/}}</ref> plus special period figures for a number of holiday periods:<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday road crash statistics|publisher=Ministry of Transport, New Zealand|url=http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadtoll/#holiday/}}</ref>

New Zealand reports a daily, monthly, quarterly and annual nationwide road ,<ref>{{cite web |title= |publisher=Ministry of Transport, New Zealand|url=://www.transport.govt.nz//}}</ref> plus special period figures for a number of holiday periods:<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday road crash statistics|publisher=Ministry of Transport, New Zealand|url=://www.transport.govt.nz///holiday/}}</ref>

* ”’Christmas – New Year”’ : between 4pm on 24 December (22 or 23 December if 24 December falls on a weekend) and 6am on 3 January (4 or 5 January if 1 and/or 2 January fall on a weekend or 2 January falls on a Friday).

* ”’Christmas – New Year”’ : between 4pm on 24 December (22 or 23 December if 24 December falls on a weekend) and 6am on 3 January (4 or 5 January if 1 and/or 2 January fall on a weekend or 2 January falls on a Friday).

* ”’Easter”’ — from 4pm on the day before Good Friday and 6am the following Tuesday.

* ”’Easter”’ — from 4pm on the day before Good Friday and 6am the following Tuesday.

* ”’Labour Day Weekend”’ — from 4pm on the Friday before the last Monday in October to 6am the following Tuesday.

* ”’Labour Day Weekend”’ — from 4pm on the Friday before the last Monday in October to 6am the following Tuesday.

The road toll includes deaths which occur within 7 days of a road accident as a result of injuries received in the accident. Deaths of pedestrians and cyclists are included, but deaths from vehicular accidents not on legal roads (e.g. on farms) are excluded.

The road deaths which occur within days of a road accident as a result of injuries received in the accident.

|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-road-deaths/provisional-road-deaths/

|title=Provisional road deaths – Safety — Road deaths

}}</ref> Deaths of pedestrians and cyclists are included, but deaths from vehicular accidents not on legal roads (e.g. on farms) are excluded.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

The New Zealand road toll has exhibited a downward trend since the late 1980s through to 2010, which was attributed to a number of factors:

The New Zealand road exhibited a downward trend since the late 1980s through to 2010, which was attributed to a number of factors:

* A reduction in drink driving, due to public education and strict policing.

* A reduction in drink driving, due to public education and strict policing.

* Improvements in vehicle safety.

* Improvements in vehicle safety.

* Reduction of speed limits in some [[accident blackspot]]s and areas frequented by vulnerable road users.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

* Reduction of speed limits in some [[accident blackspot]]s and areas frequented by vulnerable road users.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

===Recent road toll figures===

===Recent road ===

Road toll statistics are available from as far back as 1921, when records began. A peak was reached with 843 deaths in 1973. Here are some figures from the last few years (dashes indicate figures not published or unavailable).<ref name=”Annual”>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā mate i ngā rori {{!}} Safety — Death on NZ roads since 1921|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-road-deaths/death-on-nz-roads-since-1921|access-date=14 December 2023|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā mate i ngā rori {{!}} Safety — Road deaths|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-road-deaths/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā tatauranga ā-tau {{!}} Safety — Annual statistics|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-annual-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Road statistics are available from as far back as 1921, when records began. A peak was reached with 843 deaths in 1973. Here are some figures from the last few years (dashes indicate figures not published or unavailable).<ref name=”Annual”>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā mate i ngā rori {{!}} Safety — Death on NZ roads since 1921|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-road-deaths/death-on-nz-roads-since-1921|access-date=14 December 2023|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā mate i ngā rori {{!}} Safety — Road deaths|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-road-deaths/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā tatauranga ā-tau {{!}} Safety — Annual statistics|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-annual-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref>

[[File:New Zealand Road Deaths and reported injury casualties 1990-2016.tif|thumb|New Zealand Road Deaths and reported injury casualties 1990-2016]]

[[File:New Zealand Road Deaths and reported injury casualties 1990-2016.tif|thumb|New Zealand Road Deaths and reported injury casualties 1990-2016]]

====By types of road user====

====By types of road user====

A breakdown of the types of road users involved in the road death toll since 2010.<ref name=”Annual”/><ref>{{cite web |title=Road crash statistics|publisher=Ministry of Transport, New Zealand|url=http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadtoll/}}</ref>

A breakdown of the types of road users involved in the road death since 2010.<ref name=”Annual”/><ref>{{cite web |title=Road |publisher=Ministry of Transport, New Zealand|url=://www.transport.govt.nz//}}</ref>

{| class=”wikitable sortable”

{| class=”wikitable sortable”

! Year !! Drivers !! Passengers !! Motor Cyclists !! Cyclists !! Pedestrians !! Other !! Total

! Year !! Drivers !! Passengers !! Motor Cyclists !! Cyclists !! Pedestrians !! Other !! Total

====By age====

====By age====

The following table gives the number of road toll deaths by age group from 2010. The total killed includes unknown aged fatalities.<ref name=”Annual”/>

The following table gives the number of road deaths by age group from 2010. The total killed includes unknown aged fatalities.<ref name=”Annual”/>

{| class=”wikitable sortable”

{| class=”wikitable sortable”

Around 20% of deaths involve trucks,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā tatauranga ā-tau {{!}} Safety — Annual statistics|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-annual-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref> though trucks form only about 3% of traffic on the roads.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ngā waka rori {{!}} Road transport|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/road-transport/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref> A speed study of 188 trucks found 86% took corners faster than the recommended speed and, of truck crashes on the [[Kaikōura]] coast, 73% had [[Vehicle rollover|rolled]] on a corners with an advisory speed sign.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speed limits|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/heavy-vehicle-road-code/road-code/about-limits/speed-limits/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=www.nzta.govt.nz}}</ref>

Around 20% of deaths involve trucks,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā tatauranga ā-tau {{!}} Safety — Annual statistics|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-annual-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref> though trucks form only about 3% of traffic on the roads.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ngā waka rori {{!}} Road transport|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/road-transport/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref> A speed study of 188 trucks found 86% took corners faster than the recommended speed and, of truck crashes on the [[Kaikōura]] coast, 73% had [[Vehicle rollover|rolled]] on a corners with an advisory speed sign.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speed limits|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/heavy-vehicle-road-code/road-code/about-limits/speed-limits/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=www.nzta.govt.nz}}</ref>

====Tourist road toll====

====Tourist road ====

Overseas licence holders are involved in just over 6 percent of fatal and injury crashes.<ref>[http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/crashfacts/overseasdriversincrashes/ Overseas drivers in crashes]</ref> In 2016 overseas drivers (those with an overseas drivers licence) were involved in 24 fatal traffic crashes, 114 serious injury crashes and 506 minor injury crashes. In comparison, in total in New Zealand in 2016, there were 286 fatal crashes, 2,099 serious injury crashes and 7,583 minor injury crashes.<ref>[http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Research/Documents/Overseas-drivers2017-Sep17.pdf NZ Transport Overseas Driver Fatalities (Page 3 of PDF)]</ref> Over the five years from 2012-2016, 6.2 percent of fatal and injury crashes involved an overseas driver. Over the same period, 4.1 percent of all drivers involved in crashes were overseas drivers. In 2019 6 fatal crashes involved overseas drivers, killing 17 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā tatauranga ā-tau {{!}} Safety — Annual statistics|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-annual-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Overseas licence holders are involved in just over 6 percent of fatal and injury crashes.<ref>[http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/crashfacts/overseasdriversincrashes/ Overseas drivers in crashes]</ref> In 2016 overseas drivers (those with an overseas drivers licence) were involved in 24 fatal traffic crashes, 114 serious injury crashes and 506 minor injury crashes. In comparison, in total in New Zealand in 2016, there were 286 fatal crashes, 2,099 serious injury crashes and 7,583 minor injury crashes.<ref>[http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Research/Documents/Overseas-drivers2017-Sep17.pdf NZ Transport Overseas Driver Fatalities (Page 3 of PDF)]</ref> Over the five years from 2012-2016, 6.2 percent of fatal and injury crashes involved an overseas driver. Over the same period, 4.1 percent of all drivers involved in crashes were overseas drivers. In 2019 6 fatal crashes involved overseas drivers, killing 17 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Marutau — Ngā tatauranga ā-tau {{!}} Safety — Annual statistics|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/statistics-and-insights/safety-annual-statistics/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Ministry of Transport|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Australia==

==Australia==

In Australia the road toll is reported at a state level. Similar to New Zealand, Australia also reports national figures for special holidays, though usually only for the Christmas and Easter holiday periods.

In Australia road reported at a state level and .

|title=Australian Road Deaths Database

|url=https://www.bitre.gov.au/statistics/safety/fatal_road_crash_database

|publisher=Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics

}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web

|title=Road Deaths Australia—Monthly Bulletins

|url=https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/road_deaths_australia_monthly_bulletins

|publisher=Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics

}}

</ref> Similar to New Zealand, Australia also reports national figures for special holidays, though usually only for the Christmas and Easter holiday periods.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

In 2010, 1367 people lost their lives in road traffic crashes in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accidents Injuries and Fatalities: Transport Related Deaths |work=1301.0 – Year Book Australia (2012) |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Accidents,%20injuries%20and%20fatalities~189 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=21 July 2014|date=24 May 2012 }}</ref> While strategies to reduce road toll, including legislation, improvements to vehicle’s which help to make them safer, and educational programs have been developed by the national government, under the 1992 Road Safety Strategy, it is up to the local governments to adopt and enforce these policies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vehicle Collisions in Australia|url=http://www.nswcompensationlawyers.com.au/vehicle-collisions-australia/|website=NSW Compensation Lawyers|access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> The state of Victoria has implemented several initiatives such as speed camera, random alcohol breath tests, and an integrated state trauma system, which have successfully reduced the number of deaths caused by road traffic crashes.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Atkin|first1=C|last2=Freedman|first2=I|last3=Rosenfeld|first3=J|last4=Fitzgerald|first4=M|last5=Kossmann|first5=T|title=The evolution of an integrated state trauma system in Victoria, Australia|pages=1277–87 |journal=Injury |doi=10.1016/j.injury.2005.05.011 |pmid=16214472 |volume=36 |issue=11 |date=November 2005}}</ref> Requiring motorists and passengers to wear seat belts appears to have reduced the road toll in Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bhattacharyya |first1=M |last2=Layton |first2=A |title=Effectiveness of Seat Belt Legislation on the Queensland Road Toll – An Australian Case Study in Intervention Analysis |journal=Journal of the American Statistical Association |date=1979 |volume=74 |issue=367 |pages=596–603 |doi=10.1080/01621459.1979.10481655 }}</ref>

In 2010, 1367 people lost their lives in road traffic crashes in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accidents Injuries and Fatalities: Transport Related Deaths |work=1301.0 – Year Book Australia (2012) |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Accidents,%20injuries%20and%20fatalities~189 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=21 July 2014|date=24 May 2012 }}</ref> While strategies to reduce road , including legislation, improvements to which help to make them safer, and educational programs have been developed by the national government, under the 1992 Road Safety Strategy, it is up to the local governments to adopt and enforce these policies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vehicle Collisions in Australia|url=http://www.nswcompensationlawyers.com.au/vehicle-collisions-australia/|website=NSW Compensation Lawyers|access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref> The state of Victoria has implemented several initiatives such as speed camera, random alcohol breath tests, and an integrated state trauma system, which have successfully reduced the number of deaths caused by road traffic crashes.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Atkin|first1=C|last2=Freedman|first2=I|last3=Rosenfeld|first3=J|last4=Fitzgerald|first4=M|last5=Kossmann|first5=T|title=The evolution of an integrated state trauma system in Victoria, Australia|pages=1277–87 |journal=Injury |doi=10.1016/j.injury.2005.05.011 |pmid=16214472 |volume=36 |issue=11 |date=November 2005}}</ref> Requiring motorists and passengers to wear seat belts appears to have reduced road in Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bhattacharyya |first1=M |last2=Layton |first2=A |title=Effectiveness of Seat Belt Legislation on the Queensland Road Toll – An Australian Case Study in Intervention Analysis |journal=Journal of the American Statistical Association |date=1979 |volume=74 |issue=367 |pages=596–603 |doi=10.1080/01621459.1979.10481655 }}</ref>

Random breath testing (“RBT”), utilised throughout Australia, differs from the sobriety check-points commonly used in other countries. In Australia, random breath testing is accomplished by setting up a highly visible road block, wherein all drivers passing through are asked to take an alcohol breath test, regardless of whether there is any cause to believe the driver has been drinking.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Homel |first1=R |chapter=Random Breath Testing and Random Stopping Programs in Australia |title=Drinking and Driving: Advances in Research and Prevention |editor-first=R.J. |editor-last=Wilson |editor2-first=R.E. |editor2-last=Mann |publisher=Guilford Press |year=1990 |isbn=978-0898621709 |chapter-url=http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/188714/random.pdf |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/drinkingdrivinga0000unse }}</ref> RBT was shown to reduce alcohol related road toll by 8–71% in fourteen different studies reviewed by Dr. Corinne Peek-Asa.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peek-Asa |first1=C |title=The Effect of Random Alcohol Screening in Reducing Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries |journal=American Journal of Preventive Medicine |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=57–67 |doi=10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00116-0 |url=http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2898%2900116-0/abstract |date=January 1999|pmid=9921387 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Random breath testing (“RBT”), utilised throughout Australia, differs from the sobriety check-points commonly used in other countries. In Australia, random breath testing is accomplished by setting up a highly visible road block, wherein all drivers passing through are asked to take an alcohol breath test, regardless of whether there is any cause to believe the driver has been drinking.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Homel |first1=R |chapter=Random Breath Testing and Random Stopping Programs in Australia |title=Drinking and Driving: Advances in Research and Prevention |editor-first=R.J. |editor-last=Wilson |editor2-first=R.E. |editor2-last=Mann |publisher=Guilford Press |year=1990 |isbn=978-0898621709 |chapter-url=http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/188714/random.pdf |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/drinkingdrivinga0000unse }}</ref> RBT was shown to reduce alcohol related road by 8–71% in fourteen different studies reviewed by Dr. Corinne Peek-Asa.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peek-Asa |first1=C |title=The Effect of Random Alcohol Screening in Reducing Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries |journal=American Journal of Preventive Medicine |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=57–67 |doi=10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00116-0 |url=http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2898%2900116-0/abstract |date=January 1999|pmid=9921387 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===New South Wales===

===New South Wales===