New Zealand researcher compares highway safety to U.S. statistics

In 2005, there were more than 6 million traffic crashes in the United States, resulting in 43,443 fatalities. The fatality rate per 100,000 population was 14.66, which remains well above the rates of many developed countries. According to New Zealand highway safety researcher and civil engineer, Dr. Shane Turner, the fatality rate in New Zealand in 2005 was 9.9 per 100,000 population. New Zealand has experienced a 48 percent reduction in roadway fatalities over the past 20 years.