Wellington buses to undergo further safety compliance checks
Police and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) will from today be
conducting follow up safety checks on Wellington region buses to ensure that
a range of serious faults discovered during previous inspections have been
addressed.
Wellington buses to undergo further safety compliance checks
Police and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) will from today be conducting follow up safety checks on Wellington
region buses to ensure that a range of serious faults discovered during previous inspections have been addressed.
Today’s joint operation follows inspections carried out in May, which resulted in 11 buses being removed from service
due to a number of significant safety faults. These included oil leaks in the engine area – a potential fire risk – as
well as carbon monoxide fumes entering buses and faults with emergency exits.
The operation will be conducted outside peak times and on vehicles not carrying passengers, so as to minimise any
possible disruption to commuters.
"The purpose of these checks is to ensure the safety of the travelling public," said Kate Styles, NZTA Regional Manager,
Access and Use. "Bus companies have the ultimate responsibility to ensure their vehicles remain in a roadworthy and safe
condition at all times, and Police and the Transport Agency will be following up over the next 48 hours to ensure this
is the case."
The Transport Agency and Police have been working extensively with bus companies, including those in Wellington, to
improve their compliance.
"Police and its road safety partner agencies have been working closely with bus operators, including New Zealand Bus
which runs most of the services in the Wellington region, to ensure they understand what is required of them if they
want to continue to operate," she said.
"They in turn have given assurances that the serious problems identified earlier in year have been rectified and Police
Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit (CVIU) and Transport Agency inspectors will be checking to make sure this has
happened."
Senior Sergeant Willie Roy of the CVIU, said it was hoped there would be as little disruption as possible to normal bus
services – but that this would ultimately depend on the action taken by the operators to fix the problems previously
identified.
"To ensure as little disruption to the public as possible, the operation is being run outside of peak hours, targeting
buses not carrying passengers. However, bus operators should be on notice that if serious safety faults are detected,
then action will be taken, as ensuring public safety is our top priority."
Mr Roy said inspectors would be carrying out the spot checks of buses throughout the region today and tomorrow to ensure
compliance – with a particular focus on fumes, fire hazards and emergency exits.
ENDS
Today’s joint operation follows inspections carried out in May, which
resulted in 11 buses being removed from service due to a number of
significant safety faults. These included oil leaks in the engine area – a
potential fire risk – as well as carbon monoxide fumes entering buses and
faults with emergency exits.
The operation will be conducted outside peak times and on vehicles not
carrying passengers, so as to minimise any possible disruption to commuters.
"The purpose of these checks is to ensure the safety of the travelling
public," said Kate Styles, NZTA Regional Manager, Access and Use. "Bus
companies have the ultimate responsibility to ensure their vehicles remain in
a roadworthy and safe condition at all times, and Police and the Transport
Agency will be following up over the next 48 hours to ensure this is the
case."
The Transport Agency and Police have been working extensively with bus
companies, including those in Wellington, to improve their compliance.
"Police and its road safety partner agencies have been working closely with
bus operators, including New Zealand Bus which runs most of the services in
the Wellington region, to ensure they understand what is required of them if
they want to continue to operate," she said.
"They in turn have given assurances that the serious problems identified
earlier in year have been rectified and Police Commercial Vehicle
Investigation Unit (CVIU) and Transport Agency inspectors will be checking to
make sure this has happened."
Senior Sergeant Willie Roy of the CVIU, said it was hoped there would be as
little disruption as possible to normal bus services – but that this would
ultimately depend on the action taken by the operators to fix the problems
previously identified.
"To ensure as little disruption to the public as possible, the operation is
being run outside of peak hours, targeting buses not carrying passengers.
However, bus operators should be on notice that if serious safety faults are
detected, then action will be taken, as ensuring public safety is our top
priority."
Mr Roy said inspectors would be carrying out the spot checks of buses
throughout the region today and tomorrow to ensure compliance – with a
particular focus on fumes, fire hazards and emergency exits.
ENDS