13 minute read
Transport Forum
Lowering the speed limit on State Highway 5 will not fix the fundamental issues with the road
Reducing speed limits not the answer to poor roads
by Nick Leggett Chief Executive
Road Transport Forum NZ
YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR ON
our roads to feel like you’re on a dodgem track – having to take evasive action to avoid potholes and uneven road surfaces.
Instead of making the necessary investment to maintain and repair these roads, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency’s plan seems to be to simply reduce speed limits and blame speed for any crashes.
The latest proposal is to lower the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h on an 83-kilometre section of the Napier-Taupo Road (State Highway 5).
Because of historically poor design and engineering, the road surface on SH5 is in a terrible state. It has poor traction, making it like driving on ice. The surface has also been so frequently patched that it looks like a patchwork quilt. The unevenness this creates adds to the treacherous nature of the route as vehicles bounce around.
The type of bitumen used is totally inadequate for the temperature variations the region experiences, with very hot temperatures in summer and frequently heavy snowfall in winter. This contributes to flushing and the chip seal not sticking to the base layer.
If all the issues with the road surface aren’t enough, when a vehicle comes into the path of an accident situation the lack of adequate runoff areas, poor shoulder designs, and steep shoulder gradients means taking evasive action is extremely difficult.
At a time when our supply chain is struggling to keep up with demand and our economy needs goods to be flowing freely, slowing everyone down on the road slows the economy down: Everything takes more time and money, productivity drops and costs get passed on to householders.
Waka Kotahi has said its aim in dropping the speed limit is to save lives and prevent serious injuries from crashes.
Former V8 Supercars driver and road safety advocate Greg Murphy is based in Hawke’s Bay and drives the
Let’s Get Wellington Moving must focus on making getting around the region easier for people and freight
Napier-Taupo regularly. In an article on Stuff, he said that lack of training and driving experience – along with poor decisionmaking – was behind the bulk of the crashes.
He said the highway was in need of repair and the proposed speed limits were ignoring the real issues – and I fully agree with him.
This Easter, eight people lost their lives on our roads – the highest number in a decade for that holiday period. The Government is fixated on speed and the roading system.
But people use the roads – on foot, on bikes and scooters, and in cars and trucks, of all varieties. While our truck drivers have plenty to say about the roading system, it’s people’s behaviour on the roads and a lack of skills to get themselves out of trouble that causes so much harm.
It’s time for the politicians and senior transport officials to get out in the regions and drive the roads so they can see firsthand what the real issues are. Wholesale lowering of speed limits or putting up countless “uneven surface” signs is like plastering over a crack: It does nothing to solve the problem – it just gives the impression something is being done. Truck drivers and motorists deserve better.
As a Wellingtonian and former Mayor of Porirua I have followed Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) very closely – because I know improvements are desperately needed to help make life easier for all Wellington’s transport users, including freight operators.
LGWM is a joint initiative between the Government, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Waka Kotahi NZTA.
However, a damning review of its current state found that it’s at risk of failing to deliver an integrated, cohesive, prioritised and outcomes-driven transport package for the region. The review found the programme was “at risk of failing to deliver,” and needed to be paused so major problems could be addressed.
The review said the recommended pause would have implications for the timeframes, scope and cost of transport projects in Wellington. This is not the news Wellingtonians wanted to hear: We have been waiting far too long already for progress on unlocking the city’s potential.
RTF believes LGWM needs to prioritise reliable mass transit routes, a second Mt Victoria tunnel and a solution to the other chokepoints, at the Terrace Tunnel and the Basin Reserve.
As the number of people living and working in the central city increases, so too will the need for trucks to deliver the goods to keep the city operating. If we’re going to progress as a city or as a region, we need to be focused on the things that are going to make it an easy place to move people and critical freight around. We need effective leadership to make that happen and we need it to happen as soon as possible. T&D
RTF Conference
With plenty of amazing places to visit, like Milford Sound, a trip to Southland for the RTF Conference can be turned into a fantastic holiday
Dom Kalasih joins RTF
THE ROAD TRANSPORT FORUM IS PLEASED TO
announce that Dom Kalasih has come on board as manager, policy and safety.
Dom will focus on general and specific policy advice to the RTF membership, along with servicing sector groups, and will take an active interest in technical developments in the road transport industry.
Dom has a mechanical engineering background, and his involvement in road transport started in 1996 at the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA), where he worked in vehicle dimension and mass and specialised in over-dimension transport.
In 2005 he moved to the Ministry of Transport as a heavy vehicle safety adviser and continued policy development in high productivity vehicles, which resulted in the fuel sector beginning to move jet fuel on 52 tonne vehicle combinations between Lyttelton and Christchurch Airport – and so began HPMV.
Dom moved to Shell (now Z Energy) in 2008 and worked in areas of business development and health and safety, and held management roles in transport and logistics.
“I have long had a passion for heavy transport and believe the growing challenges facing the sector, particularly the emerging pressure on climate change and continuing desire for improved safety, make it a great time to join the RTF,” says Dom.
“Having completed heavy transport roles in government agencies and the private sector, joining the RTF is the perfect way to continue contributing to the road transport sector.”
Dom is a born and bred Wellingtonian and his personal interests include motor racing (he won the 1992/’93 Formula Vee National Championship), sailing, college hockey and working around home. He is married and has a daughter at Tawa College.
He will be known to many through his voluntary work, including his role as president of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers New Zealand, treasurer for the International Forum for Road Transport and Technology, and head of circuit safety for Motorsport NZ.
Dom officially began his role with the RTF on April 6 and the Forum looks forward to industry operators having the opportunity to engage with him in the near future. T&D
AFTER A TUMULTUOUS 2020 THAT TESTED
our resilience and once again illustrated the strength and adaptability of New Zealand’s road transport sector, the Road Transport Forum looks forward to gathering the industry together to reflect on its recent challenges and discuss the opportunities it has to shape NZ’s transport future.
Registrations are open now for The Road Ahead – 2021 Transporting NZ Conference that will take place on September 25 and 26 at Invercargill’s Ascot Park Hotel.
The Conference immediately follows the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame (on the evening of September 24) and will provide delegates with the opportunity to attend both industry events in the one trip.
New Transport Minister Michael Wood will address the Conference. Minister Wood was given the transport portfolio after the 2020 election, so this will be the first time that many in our industry will have had the opportunity to engage with him. He is also the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, an area that remains of significant concern to our industry.
As usual, the RTF is working to have a diverse lineup of speakers to provide thought-provoking information and entertainment across a range of subjects important to the sector.
Already confirmed are National Party leader Judith Collins, Waka Kotahi NZTA chief executive Nicole Rosie, former V8 Supercars driver Greg Murphy and economist Cameron Bagrie.
There will be dinners and social events to mix and mingle with your industry peers and an interesting partners’ programme for those who want to experience what Southland has to offer.
Also returning are the NZ Road Transport Industry Awards. The awards were established a number of years ago to recognise best practice and achievement in the industry. They are a way of honouring individuals, organisations and companies that have gone above and beyond industry requirements in raising skills, safety practices, knowledge, training, industry awareness, innovation and expertise.
As well as the Supreme Contribution to the Road Transport Industry Award, there will also be awards for health and safety, the Young Driver of the Year, and the Outstanding Contribution by a Woman in the Road Transport Industry.
Make your conference booking by July 31 to take advantage of the earlybird registration discount of $675 for both days. Special rates are also available for accommodation at the Ascot Park Hotel and other accommodation providers in the city.
You can register and get more information about the conference on the dedicated website, https://www.rtfconference.co.nz T&D
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RTF’s Nick Leggett and Josie Vidal present the case for a strong roadside drug testing regime to MPs
RTF takes roadside drug testing advocacy to Parliament
THE ROAD TRANSPORT FORUM
recently appeared before a Parliamentary Select Committee to speak about RTF’s support for roadside drug testing as part of proposed new legislation.
The Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee heard that RTF has a desire to improve road safety for all road users – and that it believes a more sophisticated testing regime to identify and deal with impaired drivers is necessary to do that.
“As professional drivers, truck drivers have to meet a number of laws, rules and regulations – but other road users don’t come under that scrutiny,” RTF chief executive Nick Leggett told MPs.
“Best industry practice is that truck drivers have three forms of drug testing – pre-employment, random during their employment, and post any kind of incident on the road or in the workplace – and we believe it’s time for a minimum regime to cover all drivers.”
RTF supports a comprehensive roadside testing regime for drug impairment, whether that impairment arises from recreational drug use or prescription pharmaceuticals.
Data from Waka Kotahi NZTA’s Crash Analysis System shows the number of fatalities from crashes
where a driver was found to have used drugs before driving now outnumbers the fatalities involving drivers who exceeded the drink-driving limits. In 2019, this represented 30% of all road deaths.
“While drug drivers already face serious criminal penalties if they are caught, the current law makes it hard for police to carry out tests that detect drug use – and which, to an extent, could deter drug-driving,” said Leggett.
Leggett pointed to Ministry of Transport research that shows only 26% of drivers expect to be caught drug-driving, compared with 60% who expect to get caught drink-driving.
“We have spoken to members of the public who have lost family members, as well as law enforcement officers who have had involvement at fatal accidents where drug testing of the driver has not occurred
“And we know of roadside stops of vehicles where drivers were showing erratic behaviour, but where there has been no testing beyond a breath test for alcohol.
“We support the proposed legislation as it adds roadside drug testing to the everyday menu of options the police have – when responding to incidents or accidents, and also at routine stops and checkpoints. All drivers involved in crashes should be tested for drugs, whether they are injured or not, and if they are deceased, as part of the autopsy process.”
Leggett said part of the change required is to have better measurement tools so the extent of the problem can be fully understood, as well as monitoring any strengthening of testing to see if reductions are made or if interventions reduce accidents, injuries and deaths.
The RTF questioned the Government’s proposal that drivers would need to submit to two consecutive oral fluid tests before there would be any infringement penalties, suggesting instead this should be one test – consistent with the drink-driving testing regime.
Leggett asked the committee members to take drug offences seriously, to move quickly on making roadside drug testing law and, alongside that, to ensure adequate information is provided and education undertaken with a view to harm minimisation.
“There needs to be a balance in the way all drivers are tested for drugs. We support the tight testing for professional drivers already in place in many workplaces as best practice. But we also want a regime that protects these workers from anyone else on the road who presents a serious risk, which should be the intent of this legislation.” T&D
Road Transport Forum was established in 1997 to represent the combined interests of all members as a single organisation at a national level. Members of Road Transport Forum’s regionally focused member associations are automatically affiliated to the Forum.
Road Transport Forum NZ PO Box 1778, Wellington 04 472 3877 forum@rtf.nz www.rtfnz.co.nz Nick Leggett, Chief Executive 04 472 3877 021 248 2175 nick@rtf.nz
National Road Carriers (NRC) PO Box 12-100, Penrose, Auckland 0800 686 777 09 622 2529 (Fax) enquiries@natroad.nz www.natroad.co.nz David Aitken, Chief Executive 09 636 2951 021 771 911 david.aitken@natroad.nz Paula Rogers, Commercial Transport Specialist 09 636 2957 021 771 951 paula.rogers@natroad.nz Jason Heather, Commercial Transport Specialist 09 636 2950 021 771 946 jason.heather@natroad.nz Richie Arber, Commercial Transport Specialist 021 193 3555 richie.arber@natroad.nz Road Transport Association of NZ (RTANZ) National Office, PO Box 7392, Christchurch 8240 03 366 9854 admin@rtanz.co.nz www.rtanz.co.nz Simon Carson, Chief Operating Officer 027 556 6099 scarson@rtanz.co.nz
Northland/Auckland/Waikato/ Thames-Coromandel/Bay of Plenty/North Taupo/King Country Simon Vincent, Senior Industry Advisor 027 445 5785 svincent@rtanz.co.nz
South Taupo/Turangi/Gisborne/Taranaki/ Manawatu/Horowhenua/Wellington Sandy Walker, Senior Industry Advisor 027 485 6038 swalker@rtanz.co.nz
Northern West Coast/Nelson/ Marlborough/North Canterbury/West Coast John Bond, Senior Industry Advisor 027 444 8136 jbond@rtanz.co.nz Otago Southland, South Canterbury , Mid Canterbury Lisa Shaw, Senior Industry Advisor 027 261 0953 lshaw@rtanz.co.nz
NZ Trucking Association (NZTA) PO Box 16905, Hornby, Christchurch 8441 0800 338 338 03 349 0135 (Fax) info@nztruckingassn.co.nz www.nztruckingassn.co.nz David Boyce, Chief Executive 03 344 6257 021 754 137 dave.boyce@nztruckingassn.co.nz Carol McGeady, Executive Officer 03 349 8070 021 252 7252 carol.mcgeady@nztruckingassn.co.nz
Women in Road Transport (WiRT) www.rtfnz.co.nz/womeninroadtransport wirtnz@gmail.com
