Public Attitudes to Road Safety Survey
JULY 2024, GLEN WRIGHT, INSIGHTS
Current State
The Public Attitudes to Road Safety Survey
(https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/public-
attitudes-to-road-safety/) monitors safety behaviours and attitudinal leading indicators. It
measures:
1982
• Safety related behaviours
• Acceptability of behaviours as a leading indicator across populations Act
• Perceived risk of enforcement
• Perceptions of enforcement impact
Across safety areas including:
• Speed
• Alcohol and drugs
• Seat belts
• Fatigue
Information
• Driver distraction
• Vehicle safety
The survey is sampled nationwide quarterly allowing analysis by demographic and
regional areas not possible in other safety related surveys. More granular and robust
demographic and regional analysis can be achieved by combining data from multiple
Official
quarters. Sample boosters are put in place for time-specific initiatives to track e.g. the
Better Together initiative with Police.
the
Currently outputs include:
• Full report published quarterly
• Annual presentation
• Data housed in NZTA’s Harmoni platform for in detailed analysis
under
• Data sharing with regional councils
Recent Changes and Requirements
• The survey has been transitioned from an annual phone sample to a quarterly
online sample, allowing more granularity at significantly reduced cost (phone
survey required multiple waves to include all questions).
•
Released
The survey in 2024 includes all safety content that was included in the monthly
Public Sentiment Monitor, which has been discontinued from July 2024.
• Overall we have saved approximately 60% of costs in this area to date.
• Safety Camera programme: Quarterly sampling was considered an acceptable
compromise from e.g. Safety Camera programme that previously had KPIs defined
monthly to support impending rollout.
o Regional granularity is enhanced with the sampling changes and ability to
aggregate multiple quarters.
▪ June findings include significant quarter to quarter movements in
these measures)
• Better Together and partnerships with Police. Quarterly sample boosters in place
for the September 2024 quarter to evaluate time-specific changes to enforcement
and communications activities.
o Supporting and monitoring ‘intermediate indicators’ listed in the Road
Policing Investment Programme (p11: Link inactive, please see https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/planning-and-investment/funding-and-investing/docs/Road-Policing-Investment-Programme-2024-27.pdf
▪ June findings include significant quarter to quarter movements in
these measures)
• Speed rule changes require us to have granular evidence of perceptions of speed,
and it is important to monitor as changes are made. We are scoping sample and
questions enhancements to complement consultations as an evidence base.
• Performance and outcome indicators for National and Regional Road Safety
Promotions programmes are being rewritten post-Road to Zero. Monitoring will be
need to track against changing promotion and enforcement activities (they are likely
to be more interlinked).
o Quarterly reporting now includes effectiveness measures of live safety
marketing efforts. Marketing are already seeing value from quarterly
monitoring.
Options
• Recommend retaining quarterly fieldwork to preserve ability to track changes esp.
around enforcement and Safety Cameras, and to target regional areas.
• Reporting quarterly and presentation annually could be reviewed.
o Annual presentation preparation and delivery cost of $s 9(2)(b)(ii)could be
under the Official Information Act 1982
reviewed.
▪ Insights team could present internally from main reporting
documents.
o Quarterly reporting is comprehensive, and carries a cost of $s 9(2)(b)(ii). The
report could move to a six-monthly publishing schedule.
o Internal stakeholders could retain the benefit of granular and quarterly data
with analysis provided by the Insights team using the Harmoni platform.
• The Public Attitudes to Road Safety Survey Name has been in place since the mid-
Released
1990s. The name could be updated to reflect its focus on behaviours and
contributing factors.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
PARS
efficiency
2024.docx - 2
