Young Drivers
2016
Disclaimer
All reasonable endeavours are made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this report. However,
the information is provided without warranties of any kind including accuracy, completeness,
timeliness or fitness for any particular purpose.
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Additional information
Enquires relating to crash statistics may be directed to the Ministry of Transport, PO Box 3175,
Wellington, or by email on [email protected]. For more information about road safety, visit the
Ministry of Transport website at www.transport.govt.nz.
A selection of fact sheets is available via the research section of the Ministry of Transport website.
These include:
Crash fact sheets
Travel survey fact sheets
 Alcohol and drugs
 Comparing travel modes
 Cyclists
 Cycling
 Diverted attention
 Driver travel
 Fatigue
 Motorcycling
 Motorcyclists
 Public transport
 Overseas drivers
 Risk on the road
 Pedestrians
 Introduction and mode comparison
 Speed
 Drivers and their passengers
 Trucks
 Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists
 Young drivers
 Walking
Contents
Contents ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Key facts ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Risk ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
Time series ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Vehicle type for young drivers involved in fatal crashes ....................................................................... 9
Who dies?........................................................................................................................................... 10
When do young driver crashes occur? ............................................................................................... 10
Who was at fault? ............................................................................................................................... 11
Crash factors ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Types of crash .................................................................................................................................... 13
Licence status of young drivers in fatal crashes ................................................................................. 14
Terminology ........................................................................................................................................ 15
3
Key facts
In 2015 young drivers aged 15–24 were involved in 90 fatal traffic crashes, 579 serious injury crashes
and 2,608 minor injury crashes. Of these crashes, the 15–24 year-old drivers had the primary
1
responsibility in 72 of the fatal crashes, 464 of the serious injury crashes and 1,993 of the minor injury
crashes. These crashes resulted in 80 deaths, 548 serious injuries and 2,760 minor injuries.
2
The total social cost of the crashes in which 15–24 year-old drivers had the primary responsibility was
$951 million. This is 25 percent of the social cost associated with all injury crashes.
Risk
3
Figure 1 (from the New Zealand Household Travel Survey ) shows that male drivers in the 15–19 year
age group are approximately eight times more likely to crash (per 100 million kilometres driven) than
male drivers in the lowest risk age group of 55–59 years. Female drivers aged 15–19 are about six
times more likely to crash (per 100 million kilometres driven) than female drivers in the lowest risk
group of 45–49 year olds. Drivers in the 20–24 year old age group are approximately three to four
times more likely to crash than the lowest risk group of the same gender.
1
The determination of primary responsibility for a crash is based on the crash movements and crash cause
factors assigned in the Crash Analysis System. It is not based on legal liability or court conviction.
Fault/responsibility here only considers driver and rider factors contributing to the crash. There may also be road
or system factors that contributed to the crash.
2
Definitions for fatal, serious and minor injuries and social cost are given in Terminology at the end of the fact
sheet.
3
4
www.transport.govt.nz/research/TravelSurvey/
Figure 1: Number of drivers involved in fatal or injury crashes per 100 million km
250
200
120
Female
Male
Female
Male
100
80
150
60
100
40
50
20
0
0
Age group (years)
Drivers involved in fatal or injury crashes per 10 000
licence holders - annual average (lines)
Drivers involved in fatal or injury crashes per 100
million km driven (bars)
driven (bars) and per 10,000 licence holders (lines), by age and gender (2009–2014)
As the graphs below illustrate, young drivers tend to be over-represented in all types of crash. Recent
4
figures show that 15–19 year-old drivers make up just 4 percent of all licensed car drivers . Yet,
between 2013 and 2015, 15–19 year-old drivers accounted for 9 percent of all drivers involved in
minor injury crashes, 9 percent of drivers in serious injury crashes, and 7 percent of drivers involved in
fatal crashes (Figure 2).
Similarly, 20–24 year-old drivers make up approximately 9 percent of licensed car drivers but, between
2013 and 2015, they accounted for 15 percent of drivers involved in minor injury crashes, 14 percent
of drivers in serious injury crashes, and 12 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes (Figure 2).
Of all young drivers (15–24 years old) involved in fatal crashes between 2013 and 2015, 79 percent
were male. Males accounted for 70 percent of young drivers involved in serious injury crashes and 63
percent of those involved in minor injury crashes over the same period.
4
The car licence population consists of drivers with full, restricted or learner car licences. (Motor Vehicle
Crashes in New Zealand, 2015)
5
Figure 2: Young drivers as a proportion of all crash involved drivers (2013–2015)
20–24 years
15–19 years
Crash severity
Minor
Serious
Fatal
0%
10%
5%
15%
Percentage
A high proportion (over 70 percent) of fatal crashes involving young drivers (15–24 years old) occur on
the open road (speed limits over 70km/h). This is due to the typically high speeds on these roads,
which results in a higher impact speed if a crash occurs.
Age group (years)
Figure 3: Percentage of all fatal crashes that involve young drivers (2013–2015)
Urban
15–19 years
Open road
20–24 years
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Percentage of fatal crashes
Note: This graph includes drivers of all types of motorised vehicle, including motorcycles.
Twenty-eight percent of all fatal crashes involve a driver between the ages of 15 and 24 (Figure 3).
6
Time series
Table 1: Drivers involved in fatal and injury crashes
15–19 year old drivers
Year
1990
Fatal
Number
% of all
drivers
in fatal
crashes
128
13.8%
20–24 year old drivers
Injury
Number
% of all
drivers
in injury
crashes
3,157
16.6%
Fatal
Number
% of all
drivers
in fatal
crashes
207
22.3%
Injury
Number
% of all
drivers
in injury
crashes
3,641
19.2%
1991
115
13.9%
2,947
16.2%
174
21.1%
3,382
18.5%
1992
97
12.0%
2,667
15.3%
160
19.8%
3,381
19.3%
1993
95
12.5%
2,501
15.1%
143
18.8%
3,010
18.2%
1994
76
10.3%
2,786
15.4%
135
18.3%
3,287
18.2%
1995
86
11.0%
2,768
14.9%
130
16.6%
3,466
18.6%
1996
94
14.0%
2,302
14.5%
100
14.9%
2,693
17.0%
1997
81
11.3%
2,149
14.9%
95
13.3%
2,229
15.5%
1998
75
10.9%
1,922
14.5%
105
15.2%
1,979
15.0%
1999
74
10.6%
1,776
13.8%
99
14.2%
1,767
13.8%
2000
60
10.0%
1,541
13.4%
73
12.2%
1,669
14.5%
2001
68
11.4%
1,814
13.8%
75
12.6%
1,814
13.8%
2002
50
9.1%
2,299
14.8%
64
11.6%
2,095
13.5%
2003
77
12.4%
2,301
14.2%
75
12.1%
2,316
14.2%
2004
81
13.8%
2,345
14.7%
71
12.1%
2,209
13.9%
2005
84
15.7%
2,490
14.9%
70
13.1%
2,372
14.2%
2006
64
11.7%
2,630
15.2%
65
11.9%
2,468
14.3%
2007
65
11.6%
2,837
15.2%
74
13.2%
2,630
14.1%
2008
67
14.2%
2,549
14.2%
70
14.8%
2,535
14.2%
2009
59
11.6%
2,366
13.9%
66
13.0%
2,487
14.6%
2010
61
12.1%
2,091
12.8%
68
13.5%
2,370
14.5%
2011
32
8.3%
1,574
10.6%
54
14.0%
2,136
14.4%
2012
23
5.7%
1,358
9.5%
53
13.2%
2,092
14.6%
2013
29
7.8%
1,273
9.0%
47
12.6%
2,078
14.6%
2014
23
5.8%
1,135
8.6%
41
10.4%
1,933
14.6%
2015
36
8.1%
1,356
9.1%
58
13.1%
2,127
14.3%
Note: This table includes drivers of all types of motorised vehicle, including motorcycles.
In August 2011 the age for obtaining a driver licence increased from 15 to 16.
7
Table 2: Vehicle type and gender of young drivers involved in fatal crashes
15–19 year-old drivers
Car/van
Year
Male
2000
38
2001
Female
20–24 year-old drivers
Motorcycle
Total
Male
17
55
3
50
11
61
2002
32
12
2003
58
2004
Female
Car/van
Total
Male
Female
Total
0
3
55
11
66
4
0
4
7
0
7
57
11
68
5
0
5
44
5
0
5
41
16
57
3
0
3
14
72
3
0
3
52
18
70
2
0
2
58
18
76
3
1
4
45
16
61
5
0
5
2005
56
17
73
8
0
8
48
12
60
2
0
2
2006
39
20
59
3
0
3
38
18
56
6
0
6
2007
40
21
61
4
0
4
45
18
63
6
0
6
2008
42
15
57
7
0
7
44
14
58
5
4
9
2009
39
16
55
3
0
3
40
19
59
3
0
3
2010
44
12
56
3
0
3
36
21
57
9
0
9
2011
27
5
32
0
0
0
38
10
48
4
0
4
2012
17
4
21
1
0
1
34
11
45
5
0
5
2013
22
5
27
1
0
1
25
13
38
7
0
7
2014
16
5
21
2
0
2
25
8
33
5
0
4
2015
26
5
31
3
1
4
39
11
50
7
0
4
Note: In August 2011 the age for obtaining a driver licence increased from 15 to 16.
8
Motorcycle
Male
Female
Total
Vehicle type for young drivers involved in fatal crashes
Figure 4: 15-19 year old drivers involved in fatal crashes by vehicle type (1985–2015)
160
140
Car/Van
Fatal crashes
120
Motorcycle
100
80
60
40
20
0
Year
Note: In August 2011 the age for obtaining a driver licence increased from 15 to 16.
Since 1985 there has been an 74 percent reduction in the number of 15–19 year old car drivers
involved in fatal crashes, and a 90 percent reduction in the number of motorcycle riders in the same
age group.
Figure 5: 20-24 year old drivers involved in fatal crashes by vehicle type (1985–2015)
160
140
Car/Van
Fatal crashes
120
Motorcycle
100
80
60
40
20
0
Year
Since 1985 there has been a 65 percent reduction in the number of 20–24 year old car drivers
involved in fatal crashes, and an 91 percent reduction in the number of motorcycle riders in the same
age group involved in fatal crashes.
9
Who dies in crashes with young drivers?
People in the 15–24 year old age group are most likely to die in fatal crashes in which young drivers of
a similar age have the primary responsibility. Between 2013 and 2015, 71 percent of the passengers
who died in vehicles driven by young at-fault drivers were in the 15–24 year old age group.
Table 3: Deaths in crashes where 15-24 year old drivers were at fault (2013–2015)
Age
At-fault drivers
0–14
15–19
20–24
25–29
30–34
35–39
40–44
45–49
50–54
55–59
60+
Unknown
Total
0
40
69
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
109
At-fault drivers’ passengers
Other road users
6
24
20
5
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
5
62
0
2
3
3
1
1
4
1
4
1
12
0
32
Note: The table includes drivers of all types of motorised vehicle, including motorcycles.
When do young driver crashes occur?
Table 4: Fatal crashes involving 15-24 year old drivers by time of day and day of week
(2013–2015)
Day
Day (0600–1759)
Evening (1800–2159)
Night (2200–0559)
Fatal crashes % all fatal
crashes
involving
young drivers
Fatal crashes % all fatal
crashes
involving
young drivers
Fatal crashes % all fatal
crashes
involving
young drivers
Monday
21
28%
5
29%
2
25%
Tuesday
13
19%
1
8%
5
36%
Wednesday
8
12%
7
35%
12
50%
Thursday
18
22%
5
24%
11
44%
Friday
11
19%
14
47%
22
54%
Saturday
14
20%
10
63%
20
43%
Sunday
13
21%
4
29%
7
41%
Total
98
20%
46
35%
79
45%
Note:
On the day shown, ‘night’ begins at 2200 and finishes the following day at 0559.
Percentages are the percentage of all fatal crashes in that time period that involve a young driver.
10
Young drivers tend to be disproportionately represented in fatal crashes at night. For example,
between 2013 and 2015, 45 percent of night-time crashes and over 50 percent of fatal crashes
occurring on Friday nights involved a young driver, whereas only 20 percent of daytime fatal crashes
involved a young driver.
Who was at fault?
Figure 6: Young driver fault in crashes (2011–2015)
Single vehicle,
no young driver
f ault identif ied,
1%
Multi vehicle,
no young driver
f ault identif ied,
19%
Multi vehicle,
young driver
some
responsibility,
4%
Single vehicle,
young driver at
f ault, 35%
Multi vehicle,
young driver
primary
responsibility,
41%
5
A young driver has the primary responsibility for about three-quarters (76%) of all the crashes
involving young drivers. A young driver has the primary responsibility for about two-thirds (65%) of the
crashes that also involve other road users.
Crash factors
Alcohol/drugs, losing control and speed are the major contributing factors for young drivers involved in
fatal crashes. Over half (53%) the young drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol/drugs and/or
speed identified as factors contributing to the crash. Young drivers are over twice as likely to have
speed or alcohol as a factor than drivers over the age of 25.
5
Primary responsibility (fault) for a crash is based on the crash movements and crash cause factors assigned in
the Crash Analysis System. It is not based on legal liability or court conviction. Fault/responsibility here only
considers driver and rider factors contributing to the crash. There may also be road or system factors that
contributed to the crash.
11
Figure 7: Young driver alcohol/drugs and speed involvement in fatal crashes (2011–
2015)
Alcohol/drugs,
15%
Neither, 47%
Alcohol/drugs
and Speed,
23%
Speed, 15%
Figure 8: Driver contribution to fatal crashes by age group (2011–2015)
15–24 year olds
25 + years old
Lost control
Alcohol
Too f ast f or conditions
Inexperience
Driver tired or f ell asleep
Inattention or attention diverted
Failed to keep lef t
Failed to give way
Too f ar lef t
Racing/showing of f
Did not see other party
Overtaking
Suddenly braked or turned
Illness/Disability
Forbidden movement
0%
12
10%
20%
30%
40%
Percentage of drivers
50%
Types of crash
Crashes which involve drivers losing control of their vehicles (see lost control/off road on the graph
below) are a major feature in crashes involving young drivers. Forty percent of 15–24 year-old drivers
involved in fatal crashes were in single-vehicle loss of control or run off road crashes, compared with
20 percent for older drivers. In addition, many of the head-on crashes also involve drivers losing
control of their vehicles.
Figure 9: Percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes by crash movement (2013–
2015)
Overtaking or lane change
Head on
Lost control / off road
Collision with obstruction or rear end
Intersection or turning
15–24 years
25 years and over
Pedestrian
Other
0%
10%
20%
Percentage of drivers
13
30%
40%
50%
Licence status of young drivers in fatal crashes
The following graphs show the licence status of 15–24 year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Restricted and learner licence holders make up a large proportion of these drivers; 53 percent for 15–
19 year olds and 33 percent for 20–24 year olds. A similar pattern occurs for 15–24 year-old drivers
involved in injury crashes. This reflects the high number of learner and restricted licence holders in this
age group.
Figure 10: Licence status of 15-19 year old drivers involved in fatal crashes (2013–
2015)
Learner
Restricted
Full
Overseas
Disqualif ied/Forbidden
Never licensed
Unknown/other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Note: Unknown/other includes drivers with an expired, unknown or incorrect licence class.
Figure 11: Licence status of 20-24 year old drivers involved in fatal crashes (2013–
2015)
Learner
Restricted
Full
Overseas
Disqualif ied/Forbidden
Never licensed
Unknown/other
0%
10%
20%
30%
Note: Unknown/other includes drivers with an expired, unknown or incorrect licence class.
14
40%
50%
Terminology
Fatal injuries: injuries that result in death within 30 days of the crash.
Serious injuries: fractures, concussions, internal injuries, crushings, severe cuts and lacerations,
several general shock necessitating medical treatment and any other injury involving removal to and
detention in hospital.
Minor injuries: injuries of a minor nature such as sprains and bruises.
Social cost: a measure of the total cost of road crashes to the nation. It includes: loss of life and life
quality; loss of productivity; and medical, legal, court, and property damage costs.
Crash fault/responsibility: Primary responsibility (at-fault) for a crash is based on the crash
movements and crash cause factors assigned in the Crash Analysis System. It is not based on legal
liability or court conviction. Fault/responsibility here only considers driver and rider factors contributing
to the crash. There may also be road or system factors that contributed to the crash.
15