Comparing crashes: a safe system analysis of serious injury and fatal crashes in New Zealand

Serious injuries account for the greatest proportion of the social costs of New Zealand’s road trauma, yet there is limited understanding of the differences in system failures between fatal crashes and those that result in serious injuries. Using a Safe System analysis framework, this research compared the circumstances of 200 serious injury crashes and 100 fatal crashes involving light vehicle occupants. This framework included criteria for ‘triggering’ each system pillar. The research shows that serious injury crashes are less likely than fatal crashes to involve complete system failure and that all pillars of the Safe System require attention if tangible road safety improvements are to be expected.