Crash risk maps

These maps show different levels of crash risk on New Zealand highways:


Key to map colours:  RED  = high risk,  YELLOW  = elevated risk,  BLUE  = moderate risk,  GREEN  = lower risk

These maps show high-risk crash sectors on New Zealand's roads. They were designed by New Zealand Police and it's road safety partners.

The maps were created by dividing the roads into sectors and assessing the risk based on crash statistics and factoring in a number of other crash-risk indicators.

Sector boundaries were defined according to changes in character; for example, speed limit change, topographical change (becomes windy/straight) or significant landmarks like intersections or bridges.

The crash history of each sector was assessed and compared against all others in each district. Other information such as driving complaints and visual inspections was also taken into account.

These maps are also used by New Zealand Police to prioritise road policing activity. However, police will continue to enforce any breach of road law detected regardless of it's risk level. The internationally proven policy of general deterrence enforcement still applies.


Background - Crash Risk Analysis by Sectored Highways

The Crash Risk Analysis by Sectored Highway (CRASH) Book analysis project was commenced by Police in 2001 to highlight sections of road with higher risk of road trauma, with the intention of targeting appropriate Enforcement, Engineering, and Education initiatives to reduce the number and severity of crashes on these stretches of state highway.

The CRASH Books have steadily been developed across Police Districts since their implementation, assisting Police managers in devising risk targeted patrol plans to aid deployment, and for ease of use by frontline staff. Sections of the highway network have been divided into a number of sectors bounded by recognisable geographical features. Road controlling authorities, engineers, educators and Police share the data to better understand road safety risks and work jointly to address them.

The newest versions of the CRASH Book have been assessed using the best available crash data in New Zealand using traffic crash reports submitted by Police to Land Transport New Zealand and entered into the Crash Analysis System. Daily traffic volumes, road characteristics, and a number of other factors have been considered alongside the crash history to base crash risk ratings of each road sector.

The most visible part of the CRASH Book is the CRASH Map, which graphically shows the risk assessment of the highways in the Police District. What is important to note is that the priorities (ranging from the highest priority in red to standard priority in green) are based on the relative risk rankings for the Police District depicted in the map. A priority one sector in the Waikato will differ in terms of risk from one in Otago as traffic volumes and roading environments differ.

Whilst enforcement efforts are primarily focused on higher risk locations, Police are also committed to addressing risky road user behaviour, irrespective of location. Over half of all serious injury and fatal crashes occur each year at locations where there has been none before, so reducing the incidence of speeding, drunk-driving, the failure to wear restraints and other trauma-promoting offences is critical network-wide.

New Zealand Police are committed to delivering a high quality, intelligence led road policing service to reduce the occurrence of road trauma on New Zealand's roads. The CRASH Book has not only considerably improved our capability in targeting to risk on the road, it has also assisted communities, road safety partners and engineers in working in partnership with Police to make our roads safer - in other words: "Safer Communities Together".

3519 since 20 Mar 2007