Tauranga-based New Zealand First MP Brendan Horan is riding with TD Haulage this weekend in an effort to promote safe driving around trucks.

'Heavy trucks are only involved in a small percentage of fatal road accidents, but it's a sad fact that in around two thirds of all such crashes involving a truck and another vehicle, the other vehicle is at fault,” says Brendan.

Brendan Horan is riding in a TD Haulage Kenworth chipliner to Kawerau this weekend as part of the national Truck Safety Awareness Drive.

'We all want trucks to be safer on the road and other road users can help achieve this by being extra careful sharing the road with heavier vehicles.

'My ride with TD Haulage will be useful as it will give me a truck driver's perspective of the road and the behaviour of other road users.

'To use a roading analogy, improving truck safety is a two-way street.

'Truck drivers need to be constantly aware of other traffic, especially following vehicles, and pull over where possible to let them pass.

'Other road users need to remember that a heavy vehicle is less maneuverable and may not be able to brake as quickly, so passing then braking suddenly could be risky.

'Following too closely behind a truck isn't a good idea either as the driver may not be able to see the vehicle in the truck mirrors.

'Courtesy and consideration are the keys to safer driving.

'The number of trucks on the road will increase as the New Zealand economy grows.

'While a significant proportion of New Zealand's freight will travel by rail and coastal shipping, trucks play a vital part in getting our exports to market and the goods we want to buy around the country.

'The more aware everyone is, the safer we all will be.”