Fatal Crashes Involving Trucks Lowest In 17 Years

MEDIA RELEASE

January 26, 2001

FATAL CRASHES INVOLVING TRUCKS LOWEST IN 17 YEARS

Fatal crashes involving trucks in 2000 fell by 28 percent from 1999 and reached the lowest level in 17 years, provisional figures from the Land Transport Safety Authority show.

Road Transport Forum NZ chief executive Tony Friedlander said the drop was encouraging, but there was still much room for improvement in the coming years. “We’re pleased to see these results, but we will not become complacent. We want to see these reductions continue at a rapid pace.”

Mr Friedlander said it was also encouraging to see the 28 percent figure outstrip the reduction in total fatal crashes for all road users, which dropped by 11 percent.

“The Road Transport Industry is committed to improving its own safety performance. While 70 percent of crashes involving trucks are historically the fault of the other road user, we have taken steps to significantly reduce truck crashes, regardless of who is at fault,” said Mr Friedlander.

He said the Forum had presented Transport Minister Mark Gosche with a comprehensive package of safety recommendations last year that the industry wanted to see put in place.

“One of these involves rating transport operators on their safety performance and providing incentives for those with good records and imposing extra compliance costs and the threat of expulsion from the industry on the deliquent operators who place other road users at risk.”

“While we’re pleased to see this 28 percent drop, the public can rest assured that we will continue to develop measures to make further improvements.”

ENDS

Details: Tony Friedlander Ph: 04 472 3877 Mob: 025 483 163

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