ROAD SAFETY VIEWS &
ATTITUDES
under the Official Information Act 1982
1 ‒ © I pso
p s |
s   |NZ
N TA
T Ad
A W  Pro
aka  gra
Kot mm
ahi  e Ja
Jan n
u -
a Ma
ry  rch
Aud  i'2
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ce ep
R o
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port
Released

CONCERN FOR ROAD SAFETY
1982
Young drivers’ concern for road safety is significantly less extreme and more likely to be low/slight than other key groups.
This could make them more difficult to target in safety messages
Act
Public Sentiment
Monitor
NETT
Concerned
G
reen/
Total Sample
18%
34%
29%
10%
4%2%
R
81%
edindicates
Information
sig
Young Drivers
9%
29%
41%
13%
4%3%
n
79%
ificantly higher
Rural Males
19%
38%
26%
9%
4%2%
/
83%
lo
Official
w
erthan the
the

Māori
15%
39%
28%
11% 1%5%
to
82%
tal
Very concerned
Concerned
Slightly concerned
Neutral
under
Slightly unconcerned
Unconcerned
Very unconcerned
Unsure
2 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
Base: Oct–Dec ‘23; Total sample (n=3,003); Young Drivers (n=330), Rural Males (n=141), Māori (n=110). Note: Concerned (T3B very concerned / concerned)
QRS1: Overall, how concerned are you about road safety in Aotearoa New Zealand?
Released

WHAT MAKES DRIVING ON NZ ROADS UNSAFE?
1982
Young Drivers are significantly less concerned about several aspects that could make roads unsafe including texting /
using phone while driving, speeding, inattentive drivers, and driving. Rural males are more likely to believe road
conditions make NZ road safe and are less likely to believe drunk driving is a concern. Māori respondents are more
Act
likely to believe weather conditions make roads unsafe and less likely to believe speed plays a role in unsafe roads.
Education &
Marketing Ad
Tracker
What things do you think make driving on NZ roads unsafe?
G
ree
55%
11%
n
/
Roads / road conditions
6%
Drugged drivers
R
59%
edind
37%
10%
ic
27%
a
Speed
8%
t
Poor driving skills
es
Information
32%
sign
30%
9%
ific
Drunk drivers
5%
a
Impatient drivers
n
25%
tly
6%
hig
22%
9%
h
e
Weather conditions
Not obeying road rules
r
/ l
25%
o
Official
w
e
15%
9%
r
Vehicles - WOF / rego /
th
Other road users
7%
an
poorly maintained
the
the

15%
t
9%
o
Texting / using phone
t
Lack of driver training /
12%
al
while driving
/
education
Total Sample
previ
15%
8%
o
Young Drivers
u
12%
s
Inattentive drivers
4%
Fatigue
per
5%
Rural Males
i
under
od
12%
8%
Recklessness /
14%
10%
Road signs / markings
Māori
aggressiveness
5%
3 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Total sample (n=6,464), Young Drivers (n=1,926), Rural Males (n=714), Māori (n=947)
Q1b(ii): In your opinion, what things do you think make driving on NZ roads unsafe? NB: Only coded responses ≥8% shown.
Released

UNSAFE BEHAVIOURS IN THE PAST MONTH
1982
Young drivers are more likely to admit to having participated in al  risky driving behaviours, apart from exceeding the speed
limit and driving after drinking. Māori respondents are also more likely to admit to al  risky behaviours except speeding.
Act
Education &
Rural males have similar levels as the total NZ population
Marketing Ad
% of New Zealanders who have… (at any time in the last month)
Tracker
80%
84%
Exceeded the speed limit
G
84%
r
79%
een
48%
/ R
65%
e
Driven when tired
d
Information
51%
in
60%
dica
44%
Al  NZers
tes
62%
Driven after an argument
si
44%
Young Drivers
gnif
54%
Rural Males
ica
40%
ntl
60%
y
Held & used a mobile phone
Māori
h
Official
38%
igh
50%
er
16%
/ lo
24%
w
Not worn a seatbelt
e
the
18%
r
t
27%
han
15%
th
19%
e
Driven after drinking
t
15%
ota
20%
l
8%
under
12%
Driven after marijuana
9% 16%
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Total sample (n=6,464), Young Drivers (n=1,926), Rural Males (n=714), Māori (n-947); Chart shows al  those who have at least ‘rarely’
4 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024 behaved in each manner. COM-B 1: When driving in the last month how often did you: Exceed the speed limit, even if by only a few kilometres per hour; Drive
when tired, even though you were probably too tired to drive; Drive after having an argument or feeling angry; Hold and use a mobile phone; Drive soon after
smoking marijuana. / Q9b(iii): Drive after drinking, even though you were probably over the legal blood alcohol limit.
Released

APPROVAL OF DANGEROUS BEHAVIOURS
1982
Young drivers are more likely to admit to all risky behaviours except speeding and drinking while driving. Māori
respondents believe others would approve of them driving fatigued, not wearing a seatbelt or driving over the alcohol limit.
Act
Education &
Rural males believe others would be fine with them not wearing a seatbelt
Marketing Ad
Tracker
% of those important to you who would approve of you….
9% 14%
Driving above the speed limit
G
9%
ree
13%
n
/ R
Total Sample
e
5%
d
Information
in
9%
Young Drivers
d
Driving when you are too tired
ica
6%
t
Rural Males
es
8%
sig
Māori
nif
5%
ican
7%
tl
Holding & using a mobile while driving
y h
6%
i
Official
gh
7%
er/ lo
4%
w
e
the
5%
r
t
Not wearing a seatbelt
ha
6%
n th
7%
e tota
4%
l
5%
Driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit
under
5%
6%
5 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Total sample (n=6,464), Young Drivers (n=1,926), Rural Males (n=714), Māori (n=947).
COM-B 6: We would like you to think about whether most of the people who are important to you would approve or disapprove of you doing particular things when
driving.
Released

SPEED – CHANCES OF GETTING CAUGHT SPEEDING
1982
Māori respondents are more likely to think they have a chance of getting caught speeding at 105kph
Act
Education &
Marketing Ad
Tracker
Likelihood – Speeding ticket for passing speed
Likelihood – Speeding ticket for passing speed
camera at 105kph
camera at 110kph
G
reen
5%
3%
5%
4%
5%
5%
5%
5%
/ R
Very unlikely
ed
Information
18%
18%
i
20%
15%
11%
11%
10%
9%
ndica
22%
te
Fairy unlikely
s
24%
27%
28%
si
29%
gn
29%
31%
25%
ificantly
50 / 50
hi
Official 27%
37%
gh
28%
28%
er/ l
28%
26%
30%
28%
o
w
Fairly likely
e
the
r
than
32%
t
29%
36%
30%
he
Very likely
20%
21%
20%
24%
total
under
Total Sample
Young Drivers
Rural Males
Māori
Total Sample
Young Drivers
Rural Males
Māori
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Stream 1 – Speeding ticket for passing speed camera at 105kph Total Sample: n=3,248, Young Drivers: n=981, Rural Males: n=328, Māori:
6 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
n=466 ; Stream 2 – Speeding ticket for passing speed camera at 110kph Total Sample: n=3,216, Young Drivers: n=945, Rural Males: n=386, Māori: n=481
Q9c: If you were driving in light traffic conditions on the open road, what do you think your odds are of getting a speeding ticket if you drove past a speed camera
and you were driving at…
Released

SPEED – CHANCES INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL BE
1982
SERIOUSLY HURT
There is no variation among the different groups with the likelihood that innocent people will be seriously hurt in an
Act
accident with a speeding driver
Education &
Marketing Ad
Tracker
Likelihood innocent people will be seriously hurt and have some
permanent damage
3%
2%
4%
2%
7%
10% unlikely
8%
10% unlikely
7%
11% unlikely
5%
7% unlikely
Very unlikely
Information
25%
26%
26%
29%
Fairy unlikely
Official
50 / 50
35%
36%
36%
32%
the
65% likely
Fairly likely
64% likely
63% likely
63% likely
29%
29%
Very likely
27%
31%
under
Total Sample
Young Drivers
Rural Males
Māori
7 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Total sample – Stream 1 (n=3,248), Young Drivers (n=981), Rural Males (n=328), Māori: n=466
Q10a: If someone like yourself had an accident while driving over speed limit, how likely is it that innocent people wil be seriously hurt and have some permanent
damage?
Released

SPEED – BEHAVIOURS ON THE OPEN ROAD
1982
All three groups are more likely to say they try not to go over the speed limit
Act
Education &
Marketing Ad
Tracker
I usually stick to the speed limit, but sometimes do
Speed behaviour
go
over
by
a
few
kms, intentionally
or
unintentionally. I am uncomfortable travelling at
5%
G
high speed & will pull back when I get over 110k/h
9%
6%
8%
ree
13%
n
/
17%
R
e
I believe the speed limit is the limit & try not to go
16%
17%
d
Information
in
over it
dicatess
I believe there are times when exceeding the
ign
speed limit does not affect road safety, when done
i
43%
fi
37%
ca
within reason; I take a calculated approach to
36%
ntly
speeding & if conditions allow, I am comfortable
42%
hi
Official
driving up to 120k/h
gher/ lowe
the
I enjoy the sensation of speed & for me driving at
r
th
110k/h is not always fast enough. I like to push it a
an
little, when conditions allow for it
th
33%
36%
33%
e
26%
total
I am very uncomfortable driving as fast as the
speed limit
under
5%
6%
4%
5%
Total Sample
Young Drivers
Rural Males
Māori
8 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Total sample – Stream 2 (n=3,216), Young Drivers (n=945), Rural Males (n=386), Māori: n=481
Q10b: Below is a list of statements regarding speed on the open road. Please select which one most strongly reflects you.
Released

PERCEPTIONS OF SPEED LIMITS
1982
As with the total sample, perceptions are positive with the roads normal y used – around three quarters in each group see
them as being about right
Act
Education &
Marketing Ad
Tracker
Are the speed limits for these roads too high, too
low or about right?
Total Sample
19%
75%
6%
Information
Young Drivers
21%
74%
4%
Rural Males
22%
71%
7%
Official
Māori
19%
the
75%
7%
Too low
About right
Too high
under
9 ‒ © Ipsos | NZTA Waka Kotahi Behaviour Report April 2024
Base: Jan–Dec ‘23; Total sample – Stream 2 (n=3,216), Young Drivers (n=945), Rural Males (n=386), Māori: (n=481)
Q9j: In your opinion, thinking about the roads you normal y use, for the road and traffic conditions, are the speed limits for these roads too high, too low or about
right?
Released

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