ACC safety programme aims to reduce truck injuries

ACC Media Release

2 December 2013

New ACC safety programme aims to reduce truck-related injuries

From today, companies with fleets of five or more heavy goods service vehicles can apply to join ACC’s new ‘Fleet Saver’ programme, which offers reduced motor vehicle levies as a reward for good road safety practices.

Heavy goods service vehicles are essentially trucks, though some large vans may meet the qualifying criteria (above 3500kg in weight when fully laden).

Fleet Saver aims to help foster a safety culture in the heavy road transport sector and make the roads safer for all users, by encouraging members to strive for ‘best practice’ safety standards.

ACC’s Head of Insurance Products and Injury Prevention, David Simpson, says trucks don’t crash very often and when they do, it’s not always the truck driver’s fault. But because trucks are bigger and weigh more, they’re more likely to cause fatalities, as well as serious injuries that require lifelong support.

“Trucks make up just six per cent of the total distance travelled on New Zealand roads, but they’re involved in 17 per cent of fatal crashes. The cost of ACC claims for injuries resulting from crashes involving trucks can be up to $80 million a year, or around 15 to 20 per cent of the total cost of all motor vehicle related injuries annually.

“The number of trucks on New Zealand roads is expected to increase significantly over the next 20 years. Trucks are also expected to get longer and heavier, so the introduction of Fleet Saver is an important initiative to enhance safety and help reduce injuries.”

Fleet Saver joins a suite of programmes ACC offers to employers, which encourage safety and reward demonstrated safety practices and procedures with levy reductions.

Businesses wanting to join Fleet Saver will be required to complete a self-assessment, and undergo a site audit. The audit will assess performance against seven workplace and two fleet-specific standards.

“Depending on their performance in the audit, businesses will qualify for bronze, silver, or gold status. This will determine the level of levy reduction they receive, which could be as much as 40 percent, or $186, per vehicle.”

Mr Simpson says Fleet Saver can deliver many benefits in addition to reduced levies.

“The safe driving practices that Fleet Saver encourages can lead to reduced fuel savings and maintenance costs. And being known as a safe operator can be positive for a company’s brand.

“Ultimately, though, this is about making sure that your employees and other road users get home safely at the end of the day.”

Companies that already belong to ACC’s Workplace Safety Management Practices (WSMP) programme – which offers tiered Work levy discounts linked to documented workplace safety practices – can cross credit some WSMP elements to Fleet Saver.

A reduced motor vehicle levy for goods service vehicles under 3,500kg also comes into effect today. The levy falls from $383.02 to $355.59 for petrol driven vehicles, and from $467.08 to $355.59 for diesel driven vehicles.

Mr Simpson says this change reflects the lower risk associated with these vehicles, which include vans, utes and light trucks.

“Owners of smaller goods services vehicles, who are often small business owners and tradespeople, will pay fairer levies and have more money in the pocket as a result of this change.”

More information about Fleet Saver is available at www.acc.co.nz/fleetsaver.

ENDS

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