Police are taking part in Truck Driver Appreciation Week being rolled out this week at locations throughout New Zealand.
The initiative is led by NZ Truck and Driver and supported by trucking industry partners Road Transport Association, My Trucking, National Road Carriers, Eastland Wood Council, Tairāwhiti Road Transport, and Police.
'We are really pleased to take part in this long running positive initiative that recognises the trucking industry for the valuable contribution made to New Zealand's economy,” says Inspector Mike Brooklands, Manager Commercial Vehicle Safety Team.
'When we engage with truck drivers it's normally to ensure they and their truck are safe to operate on our roads.
"This week we will be reminding truck drivers of their safety responsibilities but also acknowledging the important role they play.”
Road safety is a critical health and safety at work issue so by focussing on the safety of commercial vehicles (driver and truck) we are achieving safer roads for all road users.
As a Road to Zero partner we want a New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes.
'Trucking companies have a duty of responsibility to ensure their vehicles are safe and not put their drivers and other road users at risk.
'Truck drivers also have a responsibility themselves to check that the truck and trailers are safe to operate by holding the correct RUC-COF and registration, and ensure loads comply with the permitted gross vehicle weight allowed and other load regulations.
"And of course, have the appropriate class of driver's licence and the correct endorsements for dangerous goods carriage.”
While trucks are not involved in significantly more crashes per km than other vehicles, truck crashes are more likely to be fatal (accounting for over 20 per cent of road deaths).
CVST staff will be at the CVST/weigh pit sites identified within the 15 Truck Driver Appreciation Week locations.
Before giving out an appreciation gift bag CVST staff will be conducting breath screening tests, checking logbooks and undertaking level three inspections.
4 comments
Truck driver appreciation
Posted on 25-02-2021 08:52 | By tia
It would be nice if bus drivers were included in this initiative also - Just Saying
Tia
Posted on 25-02-2021 15:11 | By Slim Shady
Quite right. I think most are very good and drive to the laws. I wish truck drivers would, but I’m afraid most that I see break the law with regularity. I find it difficult to appreciate them when I’m driving within the laws and quite sensibly and they are up my backside, trying to bully me into breaking the law. Most Government departments now have GPS tracking on their vehicles, which is monitored, that shows when speeding occurs. They also have disciplinary procedures to deal with it. I see no reason why this cannot be fitted to all vehicles and checked. Same with in vehicle drink and drug testing linked to the ignition. The technology is there and cheap. Globally, over a million people are killed each year by speeding, drink and drugs. Governments all around the world allow it. Covid is a passing blip in comparison.
Education
Posted on 25-02-2021 18:54 | By First Responder
Do some educating rather than just hand out fines. Unfortunately police officers don't get fined for driving police vehicles with stop lights not working. Wish they were
@tia
Posted on 25-02-2021 19:46 | By Let's get real
Many of the bus drivers have less than a year behind the wheel of their vehicles and as I understand it, the current service providers are struggling to retain staff and have had to undertake driver training for new drivers from day one of the contract. Hardly able to give out awards to people that don't really know what they're doing.
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