New Zealand has ended 2024 with the lowest rate of road deaths per head of population in a century.

Provisional figures show 289 people lost their lives on the country’s roads last year. 2024 was the first time the annual road toll has been below 300 since 2014 and, when population size is taken into account, equates to 5.4 road deaths per capita.

AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen says New Zealand’s rate of road deaths per capita has not been so low since the 1920s.

“We’ve had a historic year overall for less deaths on our roads. Fifty-two fewer New Zealanders were killed this year than last year in a crash and, if you look at the size of our population, it’s the lowest rate of road deaths we’ve seen in a century.”

In 1923 the population was under 1.4 million and the road toll was 59, or less than 4.5 road deaths per capita.

Dylan says it’s difficult to pin down an exact reason for the drop last year, however he says an increased focus by Police on drunk driving and speed enforcement was likely having the desired effect of deterring would-be offenders and catching more of those who are breaking the limit before they make a fatal mistake. The tough economic times may also be having an impact, he says.

“People tend to drive less when money is tighter – the slowing of the economy and higher cost of everything may have been encouraging people to use their cars less so their income could be spent elsewhere.

“The Police also deserve major credit for the big effort they have been delivering around enforcement.”

Dylan says the significant drop in road deaths over the last year is excellent progress and the AA is hopeful New Zealand’s road toll falls even lower in 2025.

“Road deaths are a source of pain for hundreds of families each year, and many simply don’t need to happen. It would be great if what happened this year was the start of a new downward trend for our road toll.”

Despite the overall good year on the roads, 2024 ended sadly with nearly 40 deaths in the month of December – the worst month of the year.

“It shows it only takes a few tragic moments for things to change very quickly. The number of fatalities in December was concerning, especially after we’d done so well for most of the year,” says Dylan.

“If we all take care to drive to the conditions, stick to the rules and look-out for one another, we can give ourselves the best chance of having an even safer year on the roads in 2025.”  

ENDS