Annual Crash Statement (2023)
This interactive tool shows New Zealand’s crash data for the period 1990-2023. The data can be explored in aggregated form for crashes or injuries, and downloaded in machine readable format. A summary of the data is also provided.
Annual Crash Statement (2023)
About this tool
This interactive tool shows annual sumaries of New Zealand's crash data for the period 1990-2023. The tool includes tabs showing:
- A summary of 2023.
- An interactive panel to explore the data on crashes in aggregated form, with the option to use one or two categories to aggregate the data. Custom datasets can be downloaded in machine readable format.
- An interactive panel to explore the data on injuries in aggregated form, with the option to use one or two categories to aggregate the data. Custom datasets can be downloaded in machine readable format.
For a more detailed analysis on contributing factors
(e.g. speed, alcohol) and transport modes (e.g. cycling, pedestrians)
please visit
the Ministry's website.
This tool and related insights only includes a subset of the
available variables within the Crash Analysis System (CAS) as extracted on
2024-09-18
. Please visit the
Waka Kotahi Open Data Portal
to further explore the range of variables within CAS.
Enquiries
Enquiries relating to this data may be directed to the Ministry of Transport, PO Box 3175, Wellington, or by email on info@transport.govt.nz
Disclaimer
All reasonable endeavours have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this report. However, the information is provided without warranties of any kind including accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for any particular purpose. The Ministry of Transport excludes liability for any loss, damage or expense, direct or indirect, and however caused, whether through negligence or otherwise, resulting from any person or organisation's use of, or reliance on, the information provided in this report. Under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (BY) licence, this document, and the information contained within it, can be copied, distributed, adapted and otherwise used provided that:
- The Ministry of Transport is attributed as the source of the material.
- The material is not misrepresented or distorted through selective use of the material.
- Images contained in the material are not copied.
Year 2023
10 year trends
Glossary
Casualty. Person who sustained fatal, serious or minor injuries as a result of the crash.
Crash, casualty, vehicles involved. These terms often cause some confusion. A single crash may involve multiple casualties and multiple vehicles. The following example may help to clarify their use. If two motor vehicles collide, one motor vehicle crash has taken place. If four people in one of the vehicles were injured and two in the other, then this one crash resulted in six casualties. The number of vehicles involved was two.
Cyclist crashes. The data in these pages for years before 2014 include only crashes that involve a motor vehicle. A crash between a cyclist and a pedestrian, for example, would not be included. The data from 2014 includes on-road cyclist crashes even when a motor vehicle is not involved in the crash. Very few such crashes are reported to the police and recorded in the Crash Analysis System.
DSI crashes. Death and Serious Injury crashes. Where a crash has at least one person who has sustained either a serious injury or a fatal injury. The crash can include people who have no injuries or minor injuries but the crash itself is defined by the most severe injury that has occurred.
DSIs. Deaths and Serious Injuries. Where the injury sustained in the crash is either a serious injury or a fatal injury.
Exclusions. There are a number of cases where road deaths or motor vehicle deaths are not included in the official road toll. They include
- deaths that do not occur on a public road or a road to which the public has access (eg race track or farm paddock),
- deaths that did not result from injuries sustained in the crash (eg. when the coroner determines that a driver died from a heart attack),
- suicide or murder, or
- deaths on the road where a motor vehicle was not involved, except in instances where only a pedal cyclist was involved (e.g. pedestrian only crash).
These definitions are in line with the most common international definitions. Although these deaths are excluded from the official road toll a record is kept of the crash details.
Fatal injuries. Injuries that result in death within 30 days of the crash. Up to and including 1974 it comprised injuries that resulted in death within 28 days of the crash.
Holiday periods. The Christmas - New Year holiday period is that which begins in December of the year stated.
The length of the official holiday period varies depending on where the statutory holidays fall in relation to the weekend.
- When Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on a week day the holiday starts at 4.00 pm on 24 December.
- If the holiday begins on a Monday or a Tuesday then it ends at 6.00 am on 3 January (9.6 days).
- If the holiday begins from Wednesday to Friday then it ends at 6.00 am on 5 January (11.6 days).
- When Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on a Saturday the holiday starts at 4.00 pm on Friday 23 December and ends at 6.00 am on Wednesday 4 January (11.6 days).
- When Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on a Sunday the holiday starts at 4.00 pm on Friday 22 December and ends at 6.00 am on Wednesday 3 January (11.6 days).
The Easter holiday covers the period from 4.00 pm on the Thursday to 6.00 am on the Tuesday.
Sovereign's Birthday (Queen's Birthday until 2022 and King's Birthday from 2023 onwards) and Labour Weekend cover the periods from 4.00 pm on the Friday to 6.00 am on the Tuesday.
Starting in 2022, Matariki covers the period from 4:00 pm on the Thursday to 6:00 am on the Monday.
Minor injuries. Injuries that do not require medical attention such as superficial cuts and bruises.
Motor vehicle crash. Any crash that occurs on a public road that is attributable directly or indirectly to a motor vehicle or its load. Crashes which do not occur on public roads are excluded e.g. tractor crashes on farms are not included. The data in this statistical statement includes only crashes that involve a motor vehicle. A crash between a cyclist and a pedestrian, for example, would not be included.
Motorcycle/moped. On these pages all mopeds and motorcycles have been included under the one heading of 'Motorcycles'. For the purposes of registration and licensing a moped has a power output of 2kW or less and a maximum design speed of 50km/h or lower
Open Road and Urban areas. Urban refers to all speed limit areas of 70km/h and lower and limited speed zones, while open road refers to all roads with a speed limit over 70km/h.
Serious injuries. Fractures, concussions, internal injuries, crushings, severe cuts and lacerations, severe general shock necessitating medical treatment and any other injury involving removal to and detention in hospital.
Transport mode. The form of travel the injured/fatality was using as transport at the time of the crash (e.g. car, motorcycle, pedestrian). This is taken from the 'Road User' and 'Road Usage' variables in CAS which show both what mode the individuals were using and how they were using it (e.g as a driver in a car or a passenger on a bus).
Trucks. Includes light trucks.
For more information please visit the following
glossary and references page.
Notes
The Crash Analysis System (CAS), where this data is sourced is a live database and subject to continual change based on the available information. Whilst the data is correct as at 2024-09-18 these figures may change if a death or crash is subsequently excluded. Reasons for exclusion include the crash being intentional (suicide, homicide), due to a medical event or not occurring on a public road (e.g. a driveway).