KEY POINTS:
Young people are almost seven times more likely to die in road smashes than the average New Zealander.
An international comparison reported by the Ministry of Transport shows that only the United States and Greece exceeded New Zealand's 2005 toll of 68.4 deaths for every 100,000 people aged between 15 and 25.
The country's average toll for all age groups was a relatively modest 9.9 deaths for every 100,000 people overall, a figure exceeded by 12 out of the 29 countries which contribute statistics to the International Road Traffic and Accident Database.
But the younger age group had 6.9 times more deaths for every 100,000 people than the overall average. That is the greatest disparity of any of the 29 contributing countries.
Those surviving into adulthood were rewarded by a dramatic reduction in the toll for those aged 25 to 35, to 8.7 deaths for every 100,000 people, making them the safest group on New Zealand's roads.
The ministry's annual analysis of motor vehicle crashes showed New Zealand's overall toll dropped again last year, to 9.4 deaths for every 100,000 people, continuing a downward annual trend from 22.4 per cent in 1989.
But although the report does not include updates on that basis for specific age groups, it showed that 102 of the 391 people killed on New Zealand roads last year were aged 15 to 25 - of whom 61 were under 20.
Those figures are expected to be closely scrutinised by MPs preparing to consider legislation to raise the driving age from the current 15.
Where is the road toll heading?
Last year's toll of 391 was the lowest since 1960 - when vehicle registrations were less than a quarter of the 2006 total of more than 3.1 million - and well below the peak of 843 in 1973.
But the toll for this year was at 334 last Thursday - compared with 326 at the same time last year, and making the Government's goal of no more than 300 road deaths a year by 2010 look increasingly unattainable.
What about road injuries?
These have increased since 2004 to 15,174 last year - the highest number since 1995. More than 7500 of those injured needed hospital treatment. The Government's target is to have no more than 4500 hospitalisations a year by 2010.
How were people killed on the roads?
Out-of-control vehicles claimed 126 lives. One hundred and seven people died in head-on crashes, and 53 in collisions at intersections or on driveways.
What were the main causes of crashes?
Driving too fast for conditions was listed as contributing to 31 per cent of fatal crashes, followed by loss of control (29 per cent), alcohol or drugs (28 per cent), inattention (14 per cent), failing to keep left (13 per cent), failing to give way (12 per cent), and driver fatigue (11 per cent).
Who was killed?
Drivers: 190
Passengers: 107
Motorcyclists, passengers: 38
Pedal cyclists: 9
Pedestrians: 44
Other road users: 3
What was the ethnicity of drivers in fatal crashes?
European: 71 per cent (proportionally higher than the 64.8 per cent in the 2006 census).
Maori: 22 per cent (14 per cent of population).
Pacific: 5 per cent (6.6 per cent of population).
Asian: 2 per cent (8.8 per cent of population).
