Social cost of road crashes on rise

WELLINGTON: The estimated social cost of motor vehicle fatal and injury crashes in 2017 was $4.8 billion, an increase of $0.6 billion on the previous year.

And the loss of each person killed on our roads had a social cost to the community of $4.4 million.

The Ministry of Transport’s annual social cost of road crashes report was released yesterday and Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said it outlined the ‘‘enormous’’ impact death and serious injury have on New Zealand and New Zealanders.

‘‘We know more than a thousand people lost their lives on New Zealand roads between 2015 and 2017.

‘‘On average, around 30 people in New Zealand are killed in car crashes every month, and 10 times that number suffer serious and often lifealtering injury,’’ Ms Genter said.

‘‘This report identifies the 378 fatalities of 2017 as having a social cost of $4.4 million each.

‘‘A serious injury was $458,400 each, while each minor injury was $24,700.’’

The social costs comprise factors including loss of life or quality of life, loss of earnings potential due to death, permanent injury or temporary disability, emergency, hospital and rehabilitation costs, legal and court costs and vehicle damage.

‘‘That’s why this Government has invested a record $1.4 billion over three years to upgrade some of our most dangerous roads,’’ Ms Genter said.

She said by 2021 the NZ Transport Agency would upgrade around 870km of high volume, highrisk state highways. Work would include more median and side barriers, rumble strips, and shoulder widening.

‘‘Delivering road safety outcomes that reduce or eliminate the number of lives lost or seriously injured is my primary goal in transport.

‘‘This report sends another very significant message about why that’s so important.’’

The report is available on the Ministry of Transport’s website. — NZME