New Zealand government wants fewer road deaths

The government of New Zealand is developing a plan aimed at reducing 750 deaths and 5,600 serious injuries expected on its roads over the next ten years. Anne Genter, associate transport minister, says: “Most roads deaths and serious injuries are preventable and too many New Zealanders have lost their lives or been seriously injured in crashes that could have been prevented by road safety upgrades.” Genter believes the new target can be achieved mainly by increasing investment in road safety infrastr
July 25, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The government of New Zealand is developing a plan aimed at reducing 750 deaths and 5,600 serious injuries expected on its roads over the next ten years.

Anne Genter, associate transport minister, says: “Most roads deaths and serious injuries are preventable and too many New Zealanders have lost their lives or been seriously injured in crashes that could have been prevented by road safety upgrades.”

Genter believes the new target can be achieved mainly by increasing investment in road safety infrastructure over the next decade.

“Already this Government is investing a record $1.4 billion over three years to upgrade over 3,300km of our most dangerous roads,” she continues. “This plan proposes greater investment in proven safety upgrades like median barriers, roundabouts and safe cycling infrastructure.”

As part of this ambition, the New Zealand government intends to reduce annual deaths and serious injuries by 40% by 2030.

It is also investing in new programmes targeted at helping younger drivers get their licence and develop safe driving skills.

These proposals are seeking to:

•    make it easier for local government to review speed limits
•    improve the safety of vehicles entering the fleet
•    include a new focus on work-related road safety
•    prioritise road policing to tackle high risk behaviours
•    improve the safety of footpaths and cycleways.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • AVs in the Netherlands? Don't forget the bikes
    June 11, 2019
    The Netherlands’ famous love of bicycles could be a problem when it comes to the deployment of autonomous vehicles there. And there might be other obstacles, finds Ben Spencer Of all the countries on the planet, the Netherlands is most ready to start deploying autonomous vehicles (AVs), according to a survey by KPMG earlier this year. On the face of it, this is good news: coming first out of 25 countries listed in the Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index (AVRI) for the second consecutive year puts the Du
    Read More
  • New Zealand launches first road risk mapping scheme
    December 12, 2014
    Four cities in New Zealand are collaborating with the New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Transport in the urban kiwiRAP programme - a risk assessment process for urban road transport. The scheme begins in Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, and Dunedin later this month and is a development of the successful highways programme that has used crash data and risk mapping to identify where road funds are best spent to save lives since 2005, reports the Sun Live news website.
    Read More
  • Safer roads for UK cyclists thanks to government funding
    April 8, 2013
    Cyclists across England are set to benefit from safer roads thanks to a £40 million (US$60.9 million) boost to improve dangerous routes and junctions announced by Transport Minister Norman Baker. The money will be made available to improve the design and layout of roads at 78 locations across the country, with all schemes due for completion within the next 12 months. The schemes are a mix of improvements including the reallocation of road space, significant simplification of road layouts, changes in priorit
    Read More
  • London’s strategy to tackle air quality problems
    October 21, 2014
    Colin Sowman talks to Matthew Pencharz, the man charged with charting London’s path between catering for traveller needs, conserving ancient buildings and conforming to modern air quality standards.
    Read More

Highlighted Content