New Zealand could be on track to record its lowest annual road toll in at least a decade.
With just a week remaining in 2024, the number of fatalities is expected to be the lowest since 2013 when 253 people died. That year’s road toll was the lowest in more than 60 years.
The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period began at 4pm this afternoon and lasts until 6am on January 3 — marking one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
As thousands of Kiwis hit the road for beach holidays, camping trips and other summer getaways, authorities have warned drivers to take extra precautions.
Director of road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said there was no excuse for any driver to be endangering their lives and those of others with unsafe behaviour.
“Our stance on safety remains straightforward: The best way to avoid being ticketed is not to speed; not to drive drunk; or under the influence of drugs.
“It’s that simple.”
Greally said 21 lives were lost in road crashes last year over the Christmas period and road safety partners were determined not to repeat that.
“There will be a co-ordinated, highly visible police presence at high-risk locations including State Highways and rural areas, during peak travel periods right throughout the country.”
Road safety experts suggested New Zealand could have the lowest road toll in years for multiple reasons — one of them being the economy.
“It is globally recognised that the road toll follows the economy,” said advocate Clive Matthew-Wilson.
“When you’ve got high unemployment, these guys don’t have the money to go out and buy Harley Davidsons and bang them into lamp posts. When the economy improves, everyone gets optimistic, people buy fast cars, fast bikes and the end result is more fatalities.”
AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins said he believed there was an element of economic influence to the low road toll but increased police enforcement was also contributing.
“I think some of the road conditions may have slowed people down, but I also think the modern vehicle is much safer as well.”
