An oversized tractor and trailer unit will be on display as part of the NZ Transport Agency's (NZTA) Fieldays stand, which will be pushing for safer journeys on rural roads. The stand will give visitors new insights into ways of reducing serious crashes and fatalities on our rural roads.
The main display will consist of a tractor and trailer unit which will deliberately be over dimensional so agency staff can highlight the importance of ensuring safer agricultural vehicles.
"Our staff will discuss the compliance requirements for tractor and trailer units and how to ensure you keep your vehicle and you as the driver safe," says the Midlands Manager for Access and Use, David Pearks.
‘Safer Journeys 2020’ strategy considers the Safe System approach to reducing death and serious injuries in crashes.
The four key elements of the Safe System approach will be the focus of the stand. These are ‘Safer roads and roadsides, safer vehicles, safer drivers and safe speeds’.
The NZTA stand (occupying Sites 019-021) will also include information about changes to Vehicle Licensing Requirements for agricultural vehicles as these proposed changes are focused on maintaining road safety and reducing unnecessary compliance costs.
"We’ll have a range of displays including video footage of our key safety campaigns and a variety of posters and information leaflets and fact sheets."
Also supporting the NZTA stand will be Waikato and Waipa District Councils and the Waikato Regional Council.
Megan Jolly Road Safety Coordinator for the Waikato and Waipa District Councils will be promoting road safety on rural roads, focusing on two of the Safe System’s key elements - 'Safe Roads and Roadsides’ and ‘Safe Speeds’.
"Rural roads are often narrow, with loose surfaces", Ms Jolly says, "Rural roads also have other hazards such as slow farm vehicles, ditches, stock and power poles."
"They are quite different to a motorway, so often driving at speeds of 100km/h will be too fast for this road environment."
She will have some interactive displays on driving on rural roads at the NZTA stand.
Waikato Regional Council’s Road Safety Coordinator Ms Monique Haines, will promote the ‘Reduce the Risk’ campaign which highlights regional road safety initiatives.
Visitors wanting to know more about regional road safety campaigns can view the www.reducetherisk.co.nz(external link) website and there will also be an opportunity to enter one of the current road safety promotions at the NZTA stand.
The NZTA’s Waikato state highways manager, Kaye Clark, says in keeping with the Safer Journeys focus and the theme of this year’s Fieldays (‘Getting down to Business in a Global Economy’), the Agency’s stand will also have highway project information on display.
"We’re aware that visitors from the region and afar are also interested in finding out more about the economic and safety benefits of our Roads of National Significance (RoNs) projects, which look to improve our roads and road sides and reduce travel times, so our goods can get to their markets safely, faster, while growing our national economy."
