3 January 2007

Holiday road toll lowest in 40 years

Provisional figures show the 2006/07 Christmas-New Year holiday period has seen the fewest road deaths in New Zealand in 40 years, with nine deaths from six fatal crashes. Twenty-two people were killed on the roads in the 2005/06 holiday period.

While Land Transport NZ is encouraged by the result, which follows the lowest annual road toll in 46 years for 2006, spokesman Andy Knackstedt says the care and patience shown by most drivers over the holidays must continue year-round if the positive trend is to continue.

The 2006/07 holiday period officially began at 4pm on December 22, and ended at 6am today (January 3). The nine deaths over the 2006/07 holiday period included six drivers and three passengers.

Eight of the nine deaths occurred on the open road - five in single vehicle crashes in which a driver lost control of the vehicle or ran off the roadway, and three in head on collisions. One person was killed in an intersection collision. Two of those killed were not restrained at the time of the crash.

The lowest holiday period road toll on record occurred during 1959/60 when eight deaths were recorded.

Historical

Year Deaths Injuries
1980 / 81 32 481
1981 / 82 35 602
1982 / 83 18 473
1983 / 84 17 523
1984 / 85 13 439
1985 / 86 25 532
1986 / 87 31 554
1987 / 88 22 544
1988 / 89 16 594
1989 / 90 19 596
1990 / 91 18 487
1991 / 92 17 537
1992 / 93 29 528
1993 / 94 17 372
1994 / 95 19 542
1995 / 96 26 598
1996 / 97 14 432
1997 / 98 26 387
1998 / 99 24 391
1999 / 00 17 398
2000 / 01 20 409
2001 / 02 21 417
2002 / 03 17 323
2003 / 04 13 408
2004 / 05 11 513
2005 / 06 22 487
2006 / 07 9 -

ENDS

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