Skip to main content

Average US$3.75mn ‘social cost’ of each New Zealand road death

The average social cost of each New Zealand road accident death is $3.75 million (NZD 4.54 million), according to an estimation by the New Zealand ministry of transport (MOT) The New Zealand MOT also estimates that the average cost of serious injuries due to road accidents is $392,989 (NZD 473,600) per person. The social costs include financial and non-financial costs of accidents such as property damage, medical and legal expenses as well as loss of quality of life. The number of road accidents in New Ze
January 16, 2014 Read time: 1 min
The average social cost of each New Zealand road accident death is US$3.75 million (NZD 4.54 million), according to an estimation by the New Zealand ministry of transport (MOT).

The New Zealand MOT also estimates that the average cost of serious injuries due to road accidents is $392,989 (NZD 473,600) per person. The social costs include financial and non-financial costs of accidents such as property damage, medical and legal expenses as well as loss of quality of life.

The number of road accidents in New Zealand has declined from 308 in 2012 to 254 in 2013. It is estimated that one person died every 28 hours in a New Zealand road accident in 2012, with total social costs of road accidents during that year reaching $3.18 billion (NZD 3.84 billion).

Related Content

  • Road safety gains stalled in Finland and Sweden
    January 27, 2023
    Road safety gains stalled in Finland and Sweden, while crashes increased in Estonia.
  • French road deaths down 11% in 2013, compared to previous year
    January 22, 2014
    The number of road deaths in France last year fell by 11% to 3,250, 403 fewer than in 2012. Revealing the figures, Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls said they were the lowest number since the first national road death statistics were recorded in 1948. Deaths of 18-24 year olds on French roads during 2013 were down 10% year-on-year, with road deaths of car occupants down 14%. Deaths of cyclists on French roads were down 8%, pedestrian road deaths fell by 7% and 3% fewer motorcyclists were killed on the
  • Western construction firms operating in developing nations face extra challenges
    January 9, 2024
    Contracting firms carrying out road construction works in developing nations can face extra challenges - Gordon Feller reports
  • Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project providing key link
    May 20, 2016
    Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project will provide an important new link for the country, writes Mauro Nogarin. The new Toyo Tunnel project is of immense importance for Colombia, improving transportation and providing an important road link. The work is being carried out by the Antioquia to the Sea Consortium, which comprises of FCC Construction, Cass Builders and Company, Carlos Alberto Solarte and Estyma Studies and Handling. These firms are building the Toyo Tunnel project and the various access roads, with the