Alcohol
Alcohol significantly impairs our ability to drive. Studies have shown that the risk of being involved in an accident increases greatly as blood alcohol levels rise. You are sixteen times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash when driving over the legal limit.
There were 443 alcohol related injury crashes in 2008 and alcohol was a factor in 26 per cent of fatal and serious crashes in the Auckland Region between 2004 and 2008.
Here is more information on drink driving.
Night Time Crashes
Driving at night is the most difficult time for driving, as vision becomes restricted and colour and contrast is lost, increasing the risk of accidents.
In 2008, 870 injury crashes occurred at night time and most common were due to loss of control on bends. In the period 2004 to 2008, 36 per cent of night time injury crashes involved alcohol and 23 per cent were speed related.
Vulnerable Road Users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists)
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are more susceptible to severe injury in a crash because of their relative lack of protection.
Pedestrians are most likely to be involved in a crash when they are crossing the road away from an intersection.
For cyclists, the most common type of crash is when they are crossing a road, turning, or being over taken. Motorcyclists are most likely to be involved in a crash if they lose control, are turning, or in a rear-end collision.
Between 2004 and 2008, there were 318 pedestrian, 200 cycle and 253 motorcycle injury accidents. Nearly half of all pedestrian and cycle accidents were at intersections with 15 per cent of motorcycle accidents occurring in the wet.
Click on the following vulnerable road user types for more information: Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorcyclists.
Intersections
During the period 2004 to 2008 there were a total of 27,558 crashes at intersections in the Auckland region. The most common scenario is where a driver turns right at an intersection and is hit by a vehicle approaching from the right. The main causes were failing to stop and give way, not checking properly and general errors of judgement.
Here is more information on intersections.
For more Auckland road safety statistics, visit the New Zealand Transport Agency website.