The data presented here are provisional.Crash data as at 9th February 2016.
Thirty-two people died on New Zealand roads in January. This is 9 more than January 2015 and 7 more than the average January road toll for the last five years.
![Graph showing January road deaths]()
In the 12 months to the end of January 2016, 329 people died on our roads. This is 31 more than the 12 months to the end of January 2015.
During January, 13 of the deaths were car or van drivers, 9 were passengers, 6 were motorcyclists, 1 was a truck driver, 1 was a cyclist, 1 was a pedestrian and 1 was riding a mobility scooter.
Twenty-one of the 32 deaths were in open road crashes. Sixteen were in single vehicle crashes in which a driver lost control of the vehicle or ran off the road, 7 were in head-on crashes and 7 were in intersection crashes.
Of the 23 vehicle occupants who died, 11 were not restrained at the time of the crash.
Deaths and Police reported injuries by age, sex and type of road user
Deaths are for the 12 months to the end of January 2016. Reported injuries are for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Note: Preliminary fatal crash reports are submitted within 24 hours of a crash related death. Full injury crash reports are submitted only after the crash investigations are completed, so there is a lag in the reporting of injury crashes.
Road user type by sex
1213747409734410192044975402362346764| Sex | Drivers | Passengers | Motorcyclists | Pedestrians | Cyclists | Other | Total | |||||||
| Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | |
| Male | ||||||||||||||
| Female | ||||||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||||||
| %male | ||||||||||||||
Road user type by age group
| Age group | Drivers | Passengers | Motorcyclists | Pedestrians | Cyclists | Other | Total | |||||||
| Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | |
| Under-15 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 337 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 195 | 1 | 75 | 0 | 17 | 10 | 644 |
| 15-24 | 41 | 1790 | 27 | 715 | 11 | 333 | 1 | 168 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 6 | 80 | 3139 |
| 25-34 | 30 | 1434 | 16 | 300 | 8 | 230 | 7 | 81 | 0 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2170 |
| 35-44 | 21 | 971 | 5 | 138 | 10 | 186 | 4 | 70 | 0 | 123 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 1489 |
| 45-54 | 18 | 997 | 12 | 131 | 8 | 235 | 1 | 74 | 2 | 141 | 0 | 5 | 41 | 1583 |
| 55-64 | 20 | 727 | 4 | 131 | 11 | 143 | 0 | 55 | 3 | 73 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 1131 |
| 65-74 | 14 | 443 | 7 | 81 | 3 | 43 | 5 | 52 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 656 |
| 75+ | 15 | 362 | 4 | 70 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 53 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 30 | 530 |
| Unknown | 0 | 86 | 0 | 435 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 97 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 687 |
| Total | 159 | 6818 | 81 | 2338 | 52 | 1225 | 27 | 845 | 7 | 752 | 3 | 51 | 329 | 12029 |
Trends
Since 1990 the number of vehicles on the road has increased by 68 percent while Police reported injuries have dropped by 28 percent, road deaths have dropped by 57 percent and the number of days spent in hospital as a result of road crashes has dropped by 60 percent.
Crash outcomes and road user behaviour
Road crash data
| Deaths | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Number of road deaths | 405 | 393 | 421 | 366 | 384 | 375 | 284 | 308 | 253 | 294 | 320 | 329 |
| Deaths per 10,000 vehicles | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.88 | 0.95 | 0.77 | 0.87 | 0.91 | 0.94 |
| Deaths per 100,000 people | 9.9 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
Note: Road deaths for 2016 are for the 12 months to the end of January 2016.
| Injuries | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Reported injuries | 14456 | 15174 | 16013 | 15317 | 14625 | 14031 | 12574 | 12122 | 11781 | 11219 | 12029 |
| Number hospitalised (all discharges) | 7210 | 7680 | 7440 | 7570 | 7590 | 7360 | 6780 | 7070 | 7150 | 6940 | 6930 |
| Number hospitalised for over 1 day | 3198 | 3396 | 3404 | 3244 | 3042 | 2909 | 2707 | 2794 | 2886 | 2716 | 2700 |
| Number hospitalised for over 3 days | 2192 | 2251 | 2351 | 2210 | 2051 | 1918 | 1801 | 1872 | 1886 | 1752 | 1763 |
Note: Reported injuries for 2015 are for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Hospitalisations for 2015 are for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Behavioural measures
| Speed | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Rural speed, % over 100 km/h | 36% | 32% | 29% | 30% | 29% | 29% | 31% | 25% | 25% | 22% | 23% |
| Rural speed, mean (km/h) | 97.1 | 96.4 | 96.3 | 96.6 | 96.3 | 96.2 | 96.5 | 95.6 | 95.7 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| Rural speed, 85th percentile (km/h) | 104 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 102 | 102 | 101 | 101 |
| Alcohol | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Number of drivers killed with excess alcohol | 58 | 54 | 65 | 59 | 66 | 68 | 48 | 49 | 38 | 31 |
| Percent of drivers killed with excess alcohol | 25% | 24% | 27% | 28% | 28% | 30% | 26% | 27% | 23% | 18% |
| Occupant Restraints | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Seat belts worn by adults, front | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 96% | 96% | 96% | n/a | 97% | n/a |
| Seat belts worn by adults, rear | 86% | 89% | 87% | 87% | 87% | 88% | 90% | n/a | n/a | 92% | n/a |
| Child restraints used, 0-4 years | 89% | 91% | 91% | 90% | 91% | 93% | n/a | 92% | n/a | 93% | n/a |
| Cycle helmets | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Cycle helmets worn, weekday | 91% | 94% | 92% | 92% | 92% | 93% | 93% | 92% | n/a | n/a | 94% |
Factors contributing to crashes – ranked by social cost*
Notes:
Crash data for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Since there can be several contributing factors for a single crash the figures represented in this graph add to more than 100%.
* Social cost calculations include loss of life or life quality, loss of output due to injuries, medical and rehabilitation costs, legal and court costs and property damage.
| Age group | Drivers | Passengers | Motorcyclists | Pedestrians | Cyclists | Other | Total | |||||||
| Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | |
| Under-15 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 337 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 195 | 1 | 75 | 0 | 17 | 10 | 644 |
| 15-24 | 41 | 1790 | 27 | 715 | 11 | 333 | 1 | 168 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 6 | 80 | 3139 |
| 25-34 | 30 | 1434 | 16 | 300 | 8 | 230 | 7 | 81 | 0 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2170 |
| 35-44 | 21 | 971 | 5 | 138 | 10 | 186 | 4 | 70 | 0 | 123 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 1489 |
| 45-54 | 18 | 997 | 12 | 131 | 8 | 235 | 1 | 74 | 2 | 141 | 0 | 5 | 41 | 1583 |
| 55-64 | 20 | 727 | 4 | 131 | 11 | 143 | 0 | 55 | 3 | 73 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 1131 |
| 65-74 | 14 | 443 | 7 | 81 | 3 | 43 | 5 | 52 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 656 |
| 75+ | 15 | 362 | 4 | 70 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 53 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 30 | 530 |
| Unknown | 0 | 86 | 0 | 435 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 97 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 687 |
| Total | 159 | 6818 | 81 | 2338 | 52 | 1225 | 27 | 845 | 7 | 752 | 3 | 51 | 329 | 12029 |
Road user type by age group
Trends
Since 1990 the number of vehicles on the road has increased by 68 percent while Police reported injuries have dropped by 28 percent, road deaths have dropped by 57 percent and the number of days spent in hospital as a result of road crashes has dropped by 60 percent.
Crash outcomes and road user behaviour
Road crash data
| Deaths | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Number of road deaths | 405 | 393 | 421 | 366 | 384 | 375 | 284 | 308 | 253 | 294 | 320 | 329 |
| Deaths per 10,000 vehicles | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.88 | 0.95 | 0.77 | 0.87 | 0.91 | 0.94 |
| Deaths per 100,000 people | 9.9 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
Note: Road deaths for 2016 are for the 12 months to the end of January 2016.
| Injuries | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Reported injuries | 14456 | 15174 | 16013 | 15317 | 14625 | 14031 | 12574 | 12122 | 11781 | 11219 | 12029 |
| Number hospitalised (all discharges) | 7210 | 7680 | 7440 | 7570 | 7590 | 7360 | 6780 | 7070 | 7150 | 6940 | 6930 |
| Number hospitalised for over 1 day | 3198 | 3396 | 3404 | 3244 | 3042 | 2909 | 2707 | 2794 | 2886 | 2716 | 2700 |
| Number hospitalised for over 3 days | 2192 | 2251 | 2351 | 2210 | 2051 | 1918 | 1801 | 1872 | 1886 | 1752 | 1763 |
Note: Reported injuries for 2015 are for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Hospitalisations for 2015 are for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Behavioural measures
| Speed | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Rural speed, % over 100 km/h | 36% | 32% | 29% | 30% | 29% | 29% | 31% | 25% | 25% | 22% | 23% |
| Rural speed, mean (km/h) | 97.1 | 96.4 | 96.3 | 96.6 | 96.3 | 96.2 | 96.5 | 95.6 | 95.7 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| Rural speed, 85th percentile (km/h) | 104 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 102 | 102 | 101 | 101 |
| Alcohol | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Number of drivers killed with excess alcohol | 58 | 54 | 65 | 59 | 66 | 68 | 48 | 49 | 38 | 31 |
| Percent of drivers killed with excess alcohol | 25% | 24% | 27% | 28% | 28% | 30% | 26% | 27% | 23% | 18% |
| Occupant Restraints | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Seat belts worn by adults, front | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 95% | 96% | 96% | 96% | n/a | 97% | n/a |
| Seat belts worn by adults, rear | 86% | 89% | 87% | 87% | 87% | 88% | 90% | n/a | n/a | 92% | n/a |
| Child restraints used, 0-4 years | 89% | 91% | 91% | 90% | 91% | 93% | n/a | 92% | n/a | 93% | n/a |
| Cycle helmets | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Cycle helmets worn, weekday | 91% | 94% | 92% | 92% | 92% | 93% | 93% | 92% | n/a | n/a | 94% |
Factors contributing to crashes – ranked by social cost*
Notes:
Crash data for the 12 months to the end of August 2015.
Since there can be several contributing factors for a single crash the figures represented in this graph add to more than 100%.
* Social cost calculations include loss of life or life quality, loss of output due to injuries, medical and rehabilitation costs, legal and court costs and property damage.