In recent years, New Zealand has experienced a downward trend in road crash fatalities. The number of annual road fatalities has reduced by about 44 per cent from 1989 to 2003. The aim of this paper is to analyse the reduction in road crash fatalities and to detect changes in the risk of death on New Zealand roads from the two major contributing factors: speed and alcohol. Annual road fatality data from 1989-2003 were examined. In order to obtain a clearer picture of where the reductions in speed and alcohol related road fatalities were taking place, four paired comparisons were made for each of the two major contributing factors. These comparisons are; weekday versus weekends; daytime versus night-time; state highways versus local roads and rural versus urban roads. Results indicated a reduction in speed and alcohol fatalities in all categories over the 1989-2003 period, the reductions being more significant in some categories than others. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211985.
Abstract