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On Monday, we had indications we're on track to the lowest road toll in a decade for the year of twenty twenty four. Well, the numbers are in and the data reveals last year actually saw the last rate of road deaths per capita in a century. Two hundred and eighty nine people died on the roads, the lowest number per capital since nineteen twenty three, and the first time the raid has been less than three hundred since twenty fourteen. Development director at Break New Zealand, Carolyn Perry is with me to discuss this milestone.

On Monday, we had indications we're on track to the lowest road toll in a decade for the year of twenty twenty four. Well, the numbers are in and the data reveals last year actually saw the last rate of road deaths per capita in a century. Two hundred and eighty nine people died on the roads, the lowest number per capital since nineteen twenty three, and the first time the raid has been less than three hundred since twenty fourteen. Development director at Break New Zealand, Carolyn Perry is with me to discuss this milestone.

Carolyn, good morning, Good morning.

Carolyn, good morning, Good morning.

So how good is this news?

So how good is this news?

Of course, it's a positive to see that reduction, but still two hundred and eighty nine family dealing with the death of love born on our road and even more who've suffered serious injuries. So we still have a long way to go when it comes to making our roads safer.

Of course, it's a positive to see that reduction, but still two hundred and eighty nine family dealing with the death of love born on our road and even more who've suffered serious injuries. So we still have a long way to go when it comes to making our roads safer.

Have we do?

Have we do?

You know if we've traded the maybe a few You sound so callous to describe this word, but has the number of deaths on the road or the reduced number being traded off against maybe increased serious injury.

You know if we've traded the maybe a few You sound so callous to describe this word, but has the number of deaths on the road or the reduced number being traded off against maybe increased serious injury.

Until we get all of the data through, we don't know for certain on that number of serious injuries have been fairly static for the last few years. But until we see all the data come through from hospitalizations things, we don't know as much information about serious injuries peace at this stage.

Until we get all of the data through, we don't know for certain on that number of serious injuries have been fairly static for the last few years. But until we see all the data come through from hospitalizations things, we don't know as much information about serious injuries peace at this stage.

Do you agree with the idea that less people on the roads because of the economy and increased enforcement is the reason behind the slower number.

Do you agree with the idea that less people on the roads because of the economy and increased enforcement is the reason behind the slower number.

It's difficult to know and could be a range of reasons, but certainly those that could be part of it. We no more wants more analysis of those crushes has taken place, but it certainly could include things like the increasing police enforcement over the last couple of years, the cost of living. Historically, when cost of living is high, people tend to travel less and we see a reduction in crashes. But also it could be things like the impact of some of the infrastructure improvements and road safety measures that have been implemented over the last few years as well.

It's difficult to know and could be a range of reasons, but certainly those that could be part of it. We no more wants more analysis of those crushes has taken place, but it certainly could include things like the increasing police enforcement over the last couple of years, the cost of living. Historically, when cost of living is high, people tend to travel less and we see a reduction in crashes. But also it could be things like the impact of some of the infrastructure improvements and road safety measures that have been implemented over the last few years as well.

A car is going to get even more safer, do you think or if we sort of reached the pinnacle or the earbags and all the technology that's involved with keeping us safe if we do of an.

A car is going to get even more safer, do you think or if we sort of reached the pinnacle or the earbags and all the technology that's involved with keeping us safe if we do of an.

Accident, the technology continues to improve and develop. Obviously we hope that this would continue, but it takes a combination of things to address road safety. It's not one solution. So we need to improve the safety of the roads themselves, have safe speed limits that match the conditions of the roads, keep continuing to improve the safety of vehicles, and we see that coming through with those technology improvements and have increased in effective enforcement. And then there's also the part that we all still play as road users and keeping ourselves some of the safe as well.

Accident, the technology continues to improve and develop. Obviously we hope that this would continue, but it takes a combination of things to address road safety. It's not one solution. So we need to improve the safety of the roads themselves, have safe speed limits that match the conditions of the roads, keep continuing to improve the safety of vehicles, and we see that coming through with those technology improvements and have increased in effective enforcement. And then there's also the part that we all still play as road users and keeping ourselves some of the safe as well.

What more do we need to do then to continue to lower this toll rate? Do you think we're going to be able to do that?

What more do we need to do then to continue to lower this toll rate? Do you think we're going to be able to do that?

So we hope that we need to look at all of those that all of those parts of the safe system to really make continue to make those improvements in road safety. And what we're concerned about is that some of the impacts that we might see for things like the increased speed limits that are planned to be coming in in certain areas and what impact that will have and the focus on the roads of national significance and the amount of money that's going to those whilst we're seeing funding reduced for areas of road safety and things like walking and cycling and the.

So we hope that we need to look at all of those that all of those parts of the safe system to really make continue to make those improvements in road safety. And what we're concerned about is that some of the impacts that we might see for things like the increased speed limits that are planned to be coming in in certain areas and what impact that will have and the focus on the roads of national significance and the amount of money that's going to those whilst we're seeing funding reduced for areas of road safety and things like walking and cycling and the.

Impact that that might have the holiday road Tolley in is tomorrow. At the moment, I think we're sitting at eight. How does that sit in the scheme of things? Obviously, and I know we take for the comments that obviously that any death is we want to avoid it.

Impact that that might have the holiday road Tolley in is tomorrow. At the moment, I think we're sitting at eight. How does that sit in the scheme of things? Obviously, and I know we take for the comments that obviously that any death is we want to avoid it.

But where do we sit so if we compare it to last year. For example, last year there were twenty one death during the holiday period on our road, so it's a significant improvement in that, but as you say, it is looking at the families that are affected, we still have a long way to go and it is just a short period of time, so we need to look at those long term trends as well. One year and one holiday period seeing those improvements is really positive, but we need to look at the long term trends and how we continue to improve that to ensure we're reducing the consequences and the impact that's had on families.

But where do we sit so if we compare it to last year. For example, last year there were twenty one death during the holiday period on our road, so it's a significant improvement in that, but as you say, it is looking at the families that are affected, we still have a long way to go and it is just a short period of time, so we need to look at those long term trends as well. One year and one holiday period seeing those improvements is really positive, but we need to look at the long term trends and how we continue to improve that to ensure we're reducing the consequences and the impact that's had on families.

Hey, thanks very much for your time. Caroline really appreciate it that us Caroline Piri. She is development director at break New Zealand. They are a national road safety charity basically that works to prevent deaths and injuries on the roads and also to support breathing and injured people and crashes across New Zealand.

Hey, thanks very much for your time. Caroline really appreciate it that us Caroline Piri. She is development director at break New Zealand. They are a national road safety charity basically that works to prevent deaths and injuries on the roads and also to support breathing and injured people and crashes across New Zealand.

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