ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said in a statement that two-thirds of participating organisations were schools and childcare centres, making it a powerful channel for reaching young people and the adults who influence them.
“Road injuries make up a small proportion of ACC claims, but their impact is significant,” Whitaker said.
“Young drivers are four times as likely to be in a crash if they are using their phones while driving.
“By ghosting your mates while driving, you can ensure you’re focused and that you’ll be injury-free and able to see your mates when you arrive.
“It’s pretty tempting when you hear notifications coming through. The best way to prevent that temptation is to pop your phone on ‘do not disturb’ before you get behind the wheel.”
In 2025, road injuries accounted for less than 2% of injury claims but 11% of the total costs, or $766m, reflecting the severity and complexity of these injuries
ACC accepted 443 road-related claims in the Gisborne region over 2025 at a cost of $11.5m to help people recover.
The higher cost was driven by the nature of road trauma, Whitaker said.
“The average cost per claim is $14,500 – nearly 10 times higher than sports injuries and three times that of workplace injuries.”
In 2025, road injuries resulted in 1.3 million days of weekly compensation, costing the ACC Scheme $201.4m and contributing to lost productivity across the economy.
Whitaker said drivers aged 16-24 remained significantly over-represented in road trauma.
While they made up around 14% of licence holders, they accounted for 38% of serious injuries and 27% of fatalities on New Zealand roads.
These injuries often involved high-energy trauma, leading to longer recovery times, higher lifetime costs and extended time away from work.
They also exhibited the highest rates of distraction-related crashes, with 58% admitting to holding their phones while driving, according to AAA Foundation (2020) research.
“Our research shows that young drivers are most likely to crash during the first six months of holding a restricted licence, more than at any other time in their lives,” Whitaker said.
“Preventing harm and supporting faster recovery is critical to reducing long-term costs, improving outcomes and maintaining workforce participation.”
To help reduce this risk, ACC and NZTA created Drive – a joint programme designed to develop safer, more skilled young drivers through a combination of digital tools, education and practical support.
“Drive helps young drivers build the knowledge and experience needed to manage risk and keep them safe on the road. Data shows those who complete the programme are [28%] less likely to crash than those who have not,” Whitaker said.
“We want our young people to grow up confident and independent on our roads, but we also want them to come home safe.
“The time you and your family invest into a programme like Drive could be life-changing.”
For more information on Drive, go to drive.govt.nz/.
