Road freight owners and operators will get a chance to talk heavy vehicle safety and compliance next Thursday, Friday and Saturday (March 7, 8 and 9) when they visit the NZ Transport Agency's (NZTA) stand at the Transport and Heavy Equipment Expo, Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
The Agency will have a range of information available and staff will answer any questions people may have about High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs), the Vehicle Licensing Reform, the Operator Rating System (ORS) and the importance of maintenance and safety checks on heavy vehicles.
Waikato Regional Council staff at the NZTA site will talk about safety, speed and seat belts in relation to heavy vehicles and the NZ Police will also be on hand to chat to visitors. In addition to the main NZTA site, the Agency will also have a display on trailer compliance (including the correct load tie-down requirements) set up at the Roadmaster Trailer's site at the Expo.
A free seminar next Friday between 1.30.-3.30 pm will focus on work time and logbooks; and also outline changes to the ORS. NZTA staff will also include a shorter presentation on the ORS into four seminars at the NZ Trucking Magazine site at the Expo (Site D20, next Thursday and Friday, 1.00 and 3.00 pm).
NZTA Manager, Access and Use, David Pearks, says the Expo is a great opportunity to talk to truck drivers and others in the freight industry, as ongoing education is always valuable. "For example, last November we spoke to drivers at two Waikato-based truck education stops that we and our partner agencies held. While most said they had a 'good' or 'excellent' knowledge of what was required compliance for their vehicles, over a quarter mentioned that they’d had no training from their employer; and a similar number of drivers had no employee checklist for their vehicle."
Mr Pearks says there was also some confusion about speed requirements in relation to heavy vehicles. "Our staff at the Expo can clarify these issues for people who stop to chat and our free Friday seminar will also focus on work times and log book requirements."
"The NZ Transport Agency's focus on heavy vehicle compliance and safety reinforces the ‘Safe System’ approach to road safety, which is part of the Safer Journeys, New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy 2010–2020. The Safe System approach recognises that people make mistakes and aims to reduce the impact on people when crashes happen. The approach features four key areas of focus - safe roads and roadsides, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe drivers."
"The Safe System multi-pronged approach acknowledges that safety on our roads is greater than the sum of its parts - and that road safety partners and drivers have a shared responsibility around this. Our participation in this Expo is part of a wide range of activities and work we do which are aimed at raising awareness on these issues and encouraging people to play their part in creating a Safe System."
Mr Pearks says visitors to the Expo can find the NZ Transport Agency at sites EX11 & EX12 and the Roadmaster Trailers' display at site M19. "We hope plenty of people from the industry and others who operate heavy vehicles come by and see us during the Expo," says Mr Pearks. "We're keen to share a wealth of information with them so they can improve safety for themselves and other road users through this opportunity."
More details on the Expo itself are available at theexpo.co.nz(external link).
More information re Waikato Regional Council activities at the NZTA site:
After a successful Waikato truck legends campaign, members of the Waikato regional road safety education group will be on hand to survey drivers about an upcoming campaign ‘Elephant vs Mouse’. Visitors to the NZTA site will be able to talk to council staff and have their say about the campaign, which will help educate other vehicle users on a truck driver’s perspective on the road. For more information see www.reducetherisk.co.nz(external link).
