Holiday Road Toll

Christmas/New Year holiday road toll 2011/2012

The official holiday period began at 1600 on Friday 23 December 2011 and ended at 0600 Wednesday 4 January 2012.

During the 2011/2012 Christmas holiday period there were 14 fatal crashes. Those crashes resulted in 18 deaths.

The deaths included:

• 8 drivers
• 7 passengers
• 3 pedestrians

Fifteen of the 18 deaths were from crashes that occurred on the open road.

Six of the deaths were in single vehicle crashes in which a driver lost control of the vehicle or ran off the roadway. Eight of the deaths were in ‘head on’ crashes.

Preliminary crash reports indicate there were 7 deaths in crashes where both ‘travelling too fast for conditions’ and ‘driver alcohol’ were suspected and there were a further 2 deaths in a crash where ‘travelling too fast for conditions’ was a suspected factor.

Of the 15 vehicle occupants killed at least four were not restrained at the time of the crash.

*2011/12 provisional statistics.

Please note:

• Holiday period refers to the number of days the official holiday period covers.
• Blank box indicates records not available.

Local government statistics

View full local government region road toll tables for Christmas/New Year from 1980/81 – 2010/11 (PDF, 419kb)(Note: 1980 is as far back as regional records are available.)

Annual road toll historical information

Useful information

• Motor Vehicle Crashes in New Zealand - an annual statistical statement on road crashes in New Zealand.
• Crash fact sheets on a range of topics.
• For information on the government’s future direction for transport safety see the Safer Journeys webpage.