Road deaths

Age differences

Young people aged 15 to 24 are at much greater risk of death from a motor vehicle crash than any other age group. 

Over the period 2003 to 2007, the average annual road death rate among young people was more than double that of the population as a whole.

Within the youth age group, young people aged 15 to 19 and young people aged 20 to 24 have similar road death rates.  In 2007, the rates were 20.3 for ages 15 to 19) and 22.2 for ages 20 to 24.(1)

Five-year average annual road death rates (per 100,000 population), by age group, 1988-2007
  Road deaths per 100,000 in age group
Age (years) Under 15 15–24 25–44 45–64 65+
1988-1992 6.3 47.9 19.6 13.4 19.8
1993-1997 5.4 31.1 16 10.2 16.6
1998-2002 4.2 22.6 12.4 9.6 16.5
2003-2007 3 21.2 10.2 8.3 12.7

Source: Ministry of Transport; rates derived by the Ministry of Social Development.

Notes

1. Ministry of Social Development (2008), Children and Young People: Indicators of Wellbeing in New Zealand 2008 (Wellington; Ministry of Social Development), p. 153.