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).
Highway & Network Management

Related Content

  • A major highway project is moving forward in New Zealand
    June 28, 2012
    Plans are moving ahead for New Zealand's Transmission Gully highway project. The country’s Environmental Protection Agency has given its final approval for the construction of the 27km Transmission Gully project, which is expected to cost in the region of US$732.4 million (NZ$930 million). The project will be the largest road deal in Wellington region since the late 1970s and one of the largest infrastructure projects in New Zealand.
    Read More
  • Earthquake-hit Christchurch, NZ needs US$1.53bn for roads and pipes rebuild
    May 13, 2014
    The Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (Scirt) in New Zealand says it will cost US$1.53 (NZD 1.77bn) to repair roads and underground pipes in Christchurch damaged by the February 2011 earthquake. However, it only has funding of $1.17 billion (NZD 1.36 billion) and cancellation of some projects is necessary in order to reduce costs by 30%. Scirt has already spent $1.34 billion (NZD 1.56 billion) to repair broken pipes and roads in Christchurch. Raj Manji, the Christchurch city council's financ
    Read More
  • Bitumen technology: cutting maintenance costs
    April 8, 2022
    Thicklift in Utah, epoxy modification for Ethiopia and inbuilt de-icing in South Korea - a focus on technologies designed to lower maintenance and rehabilitation costs over the life of a pavement
    Read More
  • India’s high rate of road deaths could increase
    October 12, 2015
    India’s rate of fatal road crashes is high, with one death occurring every four minutes on average according to research. Worse still, the study also shows that India’s road deaths could increase further to a fatality every three minutes on average by 2020. The rate of road related fatalities is increasing as vehicle numbers grow in the country. Safety measures and enforcement measures are inadequate, which is why the problem is continuing to grow. The cost of this high road death rate is an economic burden
    Read More

Highlighted Content