September road deaths lowest ever

For immediate release

September road deaths lowest ever

Provisional national figures released today by the Land Transport Safety Authority show 21 road deaths in New Zealand for the month of September – the lowest figure for any month since current records began in 1965.

The previous low for any calendar month was recorded in August last year, when 23 were killed. The worst month on record was February 1973, when 85 people died on New Zealand roads.

Director of Land Transport Safety David Wright said September's result was encouraging, but much remains to be done to further reduce road trauma.

“We're still averaging more than one person killed on New Zealand roads every day. Every one of those deaths is an unnecessary tragedy, and every injury causes pain and suffering - often for a lifetime.

"In the first nine months of this year 304 people lost their lives on our roads. We've set ourselves a goal of fewer deaths than that for the entire year by 2010 - that shows how far we have to go.

"Education, police enforcement, safer cars and better roads will all help, but Kiwi drivers also have a big part to play as individuals - slow down, buckle up, stay sober and take frequent breaks to avoid fatigue," Mr Wright said.

ENDS

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