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1908
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The first known fatal crash occurs in Christchurch on 22 February. A car swerves to avoid hitting a horse. It misses the horse but hits a tram and a passenger thrown from the car dies in hospital a week later. Speed was considered a factor – the car was thought to be travelling 30mph (48km/h).
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1929
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178
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The first official roll toll is announced – 69 deaths. Before the official count began, road deaths were reported through radio and newspaper reports. From 1908 to 1929 there were an estimated 300 road deaths.
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1930
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246
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A National Road Safety Conference looks at ways of reducing the rising road toll (which had more than doubled from 108 in 1925 to 246 in 1930).
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1936
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203
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- The National Road Safety Council is established.
- Drunk drivers have to undergo severe tests, including reciting the alphabet backwards, walking a straight line and working out a tax payment problem.
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1944
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142
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The first official school patrols are introduced.
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1954
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272
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The first issue of Road safety magazine is published.
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1961
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393
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- Representatives from New Zealand attend the International Road Safety Congress at Nice, France.
- The Department of Transport launches its first television road safety campaign.
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1965
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559
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All new motor cars, station wagons and light trucks must be fitted with safety belts.
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1967
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57
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- Introduction of the demerit points system.
- The American-based Defensive Driving Course is introduced to New Zealand.
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1969
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570
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- Introduction of breath and blood alcohol tests.
- Minimum tread depth for pneumatic tyres prescribed.
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1973
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843
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New Zealand records highest annual number of road deaths.
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1970
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655
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Speeding infringements introduced.
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1975
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628
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- Compulsory to wear front seat seatbelts.
- Change over to metric speed limits and road signs.
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1977
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702
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Plunket and the Ministry of Transport launch a video – ‘Fragile, handle with care,’ to boost the use of child restraints.
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1978
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654
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- The Road code for cyclists is launched.
- Blood alcohol limit reduced to 80mg/100ml.
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1979
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554
|
- New Zealand introduces carless days in response to the international oil crisis.
- The age for compulsory seat belt use is lowered to eight years old.
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1984
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669
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NZ Police start the random stopping of drivers for breath alcohol tests.
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1987
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795
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New Zealand becomes the first country in the world to introduce a Graduated Driver Licensing System, creating a staged process for gaining a full licence.
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1995
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582
|
- In June, a ‘shock horror‘ television advertising campaign airs, showing 'raw and uncensored images of the crashes on our roads.'
- Child restraints are made compulsory for 3-5 year olds.
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1996
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514
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- Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is introduced.
- Speed cameras are introduced.
- NZ Police start the compulsory breath testing of all drivers passing mobile police checkpoints.
- Street sense, a CD Rom aimed at reducing the numbers of children being killed and injured on New Zealand roads, is released in six languages.
- The year’s health stamp issue features children crossing the road safely and children in child restraints.
- New TV advertisements use the slogan ‘If you drink and drive, you’re a bloody idiot,’ and introduce a new slogan ‘Country people die on country roads.’
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1996
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514
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New Zealand records lowest annual road deaths in 32 years.
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1997
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539
|
- Land Transport Safety Authority issued its first booklet on car safety – Choosing a safer car. It set out the differences between active and passive safety and explained how air bags, crumple zones and safety belts help people survive in crashes.
- A new hard-hitting TV advertisement launched on 16 November, showing a woman passenger killed in a crash, introduces the slogan ‘the faster you go – the bigger the mess’.
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1998
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501
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- ‘Rumble strips’, a measure to combat driver fatigue, are trialled over a 5km stretch of road between Grenada and Tawa on SH1 north of Wellington.
- CAS (Crash Analysis System) is launched. As well as holding information on crashes, CAS maps the location of crashes.
- Businesses are approached to develop a safe driving policy with a booklet outlining how safe driving could save them money, and what management’s responsibilities were.
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2000
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462
|
- The Highway Patrol policing New Zealand highways and roads is established.
- The NZ Police national serious crash unit is established.
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2002
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405
|
Legislation is passed which requires all imported passenger cars to conform to an agreed, overseas frontal impact standard.
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2003
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461
|
Road Safety Strategy to 2010 is published.
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2007
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421
|
The ‘Rightcar’ website is launched.
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2009
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384
|
Cell phone use (talking or texting) while driving is banned.
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2010
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375
|
- Safer Journeys Strategy 2010-2020 and Action Plan published.
- New Zealand adopts Safe System approach.
- KiwiRAP road assessment programme launched giving Star Ratings for state highways.
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2011
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284
|
- Blood alcohol limit for under 20 year olds and repeat drink drivers is reduced to 0mg/100ml.
- Minimum legal age for learner drivers licence goes up from 15 to 16 years old.
- High Risk Rural Roads Guide is published.
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2012
|
308
|
- Auckland Transport install New Zealand’s first variable intersection speed zone at the Kingseat Road and Glenbrook Road intersection.
- Give way rules changes.
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2013
|
253
|
- Blood alcohol limit reduced to 50mg/100ml.
- High-Risk Intersection Guide is published.
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|
2014
|
293
|
A new generation of fixed speed cameras are introduced.
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2017
|
377
|
Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2017 and first Speed Management Guide published.
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2019
|
350
|
- Road to Zero Strategy 2020-2030 and Action Plan 2020-2022 are published.
- New Zealand adopts Vision Zero.
- Hamilton City Council installed New Zealand’s first raised safety platforms at the Gordonton Road intersection.
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2020
|
318
|
Electronic stability control (ESC) required for all new light vehicles entering the fleet.
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|
2021
|
319
|
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) required for all new motorcycles entering the fleet.
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|
2022
|
371
|
- Setting of Speed Limit Rule 2022 and Speed Management guide published.
- Safe System audit guidelines for transport projects is published.
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2024
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|
Road Safety Objectives is published.
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