The 2006 community transport conference will take place at the Novotel Tainui Hamilton Hotel from 16 - 18 August 2006. The Road Safety Co-ordinators of Aotearoa New Zealand AGM and possibly also a safer routes co-ordinators AGM will take place at the same venue on 15 August. Unlike the recent Symposium in Christchurch, this is the bi-annual larger community conference that will follow a similar format in many ways to the 2004 community road safety conference held at Waipuna in Auckland.
There is no need for any action at this early stage, other than a request that you block out these dates in your diary. More information will be communicated in early March.
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Minister for Transport Safety Harry Duynhoven announced yesterday that the mandatory requirement for driving tests for people 80 and over will end in December 2006.
An extra $500,000 will be provided annually to expand the Safe with Age classroom
road safety courses, with the aim of reaching about 8,000 drivers a year over
the next three years. In addition, from 1 July 2007 the government will also
provide a 50 per cent subsidy to Safe with Age graduates who want to further
improve their driving skills by a taking a private on-road lesson.
Click
here to download the full media release, a questions and answers paper
and the older driver handout from the Ministry of Transport website.
The Road Safety Innovation and Achievement Awards aim to recognise innovation in road safety.
There are five categories plus an overall Premier Award for the best of the best.
Winning initiatives are selected based on areas such as innovation, achievement, commitment and sustainability.
The Awards are open until 10 March 2006, all entries welcome.
Entry forms and more details available via 0800 699 000 or www.roadsafetyinnovationawards.org.nz
The Participatory Impact Assessment (PIA) study focused on the long term professional development conducted to improve planning, evaluation and community participation in the Community Road Safety Programme. Click here to go to the PIA download section.
Thank you to all those who attended the promoting participation symposium last week, and helped to make it such an enjoyble learning and networking experience. Click here to view the Symposium resources that are available to download.
the New resident drivers brochure is now available. You can order it by emailing
order@landtransport.govt.nz.
Unlike the tourist brochure What's different about driving in NZ?, New resident
drivers is aimed at international students, migrants and refugees.
Attached is a PDF of the brochure (Japanese-Korean version) and some Q&As.
The Q&As detail the other communications that are planned around the launch.
All four versions (different languages) are on the Land Transport NZ website
at www.landtransport.govt.nz/overseasdrivers/
.
Download the Japanese-Korean version of the brochure (PDF, 746kb).
Please note that this is an updated version of a previous new story.
The Traffic Control Devices Rule requires all Road Controlling Authorities to mark limit lines 5 metres away from all pedestrian crossings by 30 June 2006 (unless specifically exempted by the Director of Land Transport)
The new limit lines will be implemented at different times around New Zealand in line with each council’s maintenance schedule. The following article can be adapted and used when advising your community of the changes when they are introduced in your area. Supporting images are also available.
Over the next <month, or other period to be added as appropriate>, new white lines will be appearing on the approach to pedestrian crossings around <your region to be added here>.
These new ‘limit lines’ show drivers where they should stop at pedestrian crossings to let pedestrians cross safely.
Drivers have always been legally obliged to give way to pedestrians on a crossing if they are far enough away to be able to stop safely. However, in the past, there have been problems with drivers not giving way completely – i.e. ‘rolling forward’ when coming up to a pedestrian on a crossing, rather than coming to a complete stop.
In some cases drivers stop so close to a crossing that they almost nudge pedestrians. This can intimidate pedestrians who then become more hesitant–leading to further delay for the waiting driver.
The new lines have been introduced to help solve this problem by providing clearer guidance for drivers as to where they should wait.
Drivers should be aware that the new lines are provided as a guide only and must ensure they wait in a position from which they can see whether the way is clear to proceed. So, if there isn’t a clear view of the whole pedestrian crossing from behind a limit line (due to parked traffic or the slope of the road) drivers may need to wait slightly over the line.
Another common problem occurs at pedestrian crossings when traffic is heavy. Often in their haste, vehicles will drive across a crossing without checking there is enough room for them on the other side - and end up blocking the crossing.
This can be extremely hazardous for pedestrians trying to cross, since to get around the vehicle they are often forced off the crossing into the path of oncoming traffic.
New rules introduced earlier this year specifically prohibit drivers from blocking a pedestrian crossing.
Pedestrians also need to take responsibility for their own safety. They are
legally obliged not to step out onto the crossing if approaching cars are
not far enough away to be able to stop safely. To avoid confusion, pedestrians
should always make eye contact with the driver to ensure they're going to
stop before stepping out onto a crossing.
Click here to download
pedestrian crossing with raised island image (jpeg 34kb)
Click here to download pedestrian crossing without island image (jpeg 554kb)
The enrolment/marketing brochure for the Foundation Certificate in Injury Prevention is now available. A 4 day block course will be held in Auckland from 11-14 October 2005. Please note that registrations close on 31 August 2005. Click here to download to brochure (PDF, 148kb).
A new brochure published today by Land Transport New Zealand aims to improve tourists’ awareness of New Zealand’s unique driving conditions – before they hit the road.
The brochure has been produced in response to research by the University of Otago which found that while most overseas tourists are highly educated, experienced drivers, many are unaware of the specific differences in New Zealand driving conditions compared to their home countries.
In line with the research report’s recommendations the 'What's different about driving in New Zealand' brochure focuses on aspects of driving which tourists are likely to be unfamiliar with. These include our unique give way rules, driving on the left, and driver fatigue caused by journeys taking longer than expected due to narrow, winding terrain.
Land Transport NZ Chief Executive Wayne Donnelly said that while the number of crashes involving tourists is small compared to those involving New Zealand drivers, the statistics are proportionally higher in key tourist regions.
“Given projected tourist growth of 5.7% each year to 2009, it’s essential to look at ways we can help overseas visitors to have a safe and enjoyable driving experience,” Mr Donnelly said.
What’s different about driving in New Zealand is written in English, but also features German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese sections to target the largest groups of self-drive nationalities among the 600,000 tourists who currently drive on New Zealand roads each year.
The University of Otago research also found that rental vehicle companies are a primary source of information for tourists before they start driving. Land Transport NZ is working with the Rental Vehicle Association to ensure copies are widely available through their networks, before expanding distribution through visitor information centres, tourism websites and overseas channels.
What’s different about driving in NZ? can be downloaded in PDF by clicking here (1407kb) or viewed online at http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/travellers/driving-in-nz.html and copies can be ordered by calling 0800 699 000. In addition we have prepared a questions and answers guide (PDF 32kb) about the brochure.
A leading supplier of child restraints is recalling a children's car seat due to an assembly problem -- two days after a baby stroller was recalled.
Britax Childcare Pty Ltd announced today it was recalling its Safe-n-Sound Maxi Rider convertible booster seat because the upper tether strap adjuster may be incorrectly assembled and would not function to hold a child in an accident.
The recall affects products manufactured between May 10 and June 26.
Britax said to arrange for a free replacement, consumers should ring 0508 68 88 22, advising the date of manufacture, inspection no, and serial number.
It said the recall did not apply to any other Safe-n-Sound child restraints.
Mountain Buggy announced it was recalling thousands of New Zealand-made strollers sold here and overseas over the past six months because of a safety concern.
The company had received reports of a weakness in the adjustment mechanism of the extendable handle.
- NZPA
The Land Transport Amendment Act came into effect this week. The Act includes new provisions about ‘low-powered vehicles’ but they do not come into force immediately, and require that the Director of Land Transport issue gazette notices to specify what vehicles are, or are not, ‘motor vehicles’.
The first of these gazette notices will be published as soon as possible, hopefully in the gazette of next Thursday 30 June. You can view these notices at www.gazette.govt.nz. The gist will be that ‘wheeled recreational devices’ and ‘power assisted cycles’ (as defined in the Road User Rule) will not be regarded as motor vehicles if their power output is 300 Watts or less than 300 Watts.
If a vehicle is ‘not a motor vehicle’ for the purposes of specified transport law, it does not require to be registered or licensed; the rider/driver does not require a driver licence, and the vehicle is not subject to Warrant of Fitness inspection. However the new law does not remove the general obligation to operate any vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner, nor obligations relating to the specific type of vehicle.
This gazette notice will affect many of the clients with whom Land Transport NZ deal, for instance importers of motorised skateboards, scooters and electric bicycles. Some of these people and organisations will be very interested to know of the change in the law. If you have been dealing with any of these people you might like to let them know what is happening. The ‘information for importers’ section on the Land Transport NZ website will be updated as soon as possible.
Further gazette notices will be issued later to set out the requirements for vehicles whose power output is between 300 Watt and 600 Watts. They will not be regarded as motor vehicles provided they meet the conditions of operation specified in the relevant gazette notice.
If you have any specific issues or cases please contact Barbara Bibby on 04 931 8775 and she will see that the queries go to the right person.
The 4th edition of the CRSP newsletter 'What's up?' is now available to download.
What's
Up June 2005 (PDF 108 kb)
We’re aware there’s still some confusion out there about the new pedestrian
crossing rules – especially around when a driver can continue across a crossing
after giving way to a pedestrian on that crossing.
A driver has always been required to give way to a pedestrian anywhere on
a pedestrian crossing.
Previously, if a crossing was divided by a painted centreline or raised traffic
island, it was considered to be two crossings and drivers only had to give
way to pedestrians on the crossing on their side of the road. However, under
the new rules this only applies if the pedestrian crossing is divided by a
raised traffic island.
Once the driver has given way to a pedestrian, (and there is no other pedestrian
to whom the driver must give way), the driver may continue driving. In most
circumstances the driver does not need to wait until the pedestrian is completely
off the pedestrian crossing as they have already ‘given way’ to them.
It’s important that drivers do not receive the wrong advice about pedestrian
crossings – so please spread the word when talking to your community!
An induction course for people who have recently begun working within the CRSP will be held at the Waipuna conference centre in Auckland on 9-10 May. Click here to download the course agenda or contact Debbie Player on 04 931 8741 for more information.
Motorists speeding along Riddell Road are a major concern says a local resident Abby Rushton and she plans to do something about it.
Auckland City's speed data counts show that some motorists on Riddell Road
reach over 80 km/h and most cars are doing at least
61 km/h the legal limit is 50 km/h.
With the support of Auckland City, Ms Rushton has committed to spending two weeks going around her neighbourhood spreading the slow down message.
'Research has shown that some motorists do speed in the street they live in. These are the people Ms Rushton is targeting in the slow down campaign,' says Claire Dixon, Auckland City's road safety co-ordinator.
'The council is happy to facilitate and fund this road safety campaign in the community. It's great to be able to empower a local resident to spread this important message,' says Ms Dixon.
Ms Rushton has made her own flyers to give out, and has organised for local businesses to wear t-shirts, use shopping bags, and give out key tags all printed with the slow down message.
She is visiting the neighbours with her son, 5-month-old Quinn, who will also sport the slow down message on his little t-shirt.
'Several local pets have been killed on our road and it's just matter of time
before a child is hit by a speeding car. I want to spread the word about slowing
down and encourage the community to get behind this important road safety
message,' says Ms Rushton.
In conjunction with this campaign the year 11, 12 and 13 pupils at the local high school, Glendowie College, will be given presentations about the dangers of speeding organised by Auckland City and presented by the New Zealand Police and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
Ms Rushton will be visiting her neighbours during the two weeks starting Monday, 14 March and finishing Friday, 25 March.
Drivetime seminars for novice drivers and their coaches are the latest programme to be endorsed by the CRSP. The aim is to encourage novice drivers to participate in the Practice programme, to increase their number of supervised driving hours and to provide strategies and advice to improve the quality of coaching by their supervisors.
The seminars were successfully piloted in the Wellington region and delivered to novice drivers and their supervisors over a two-hour session. The programme is now being launched so it can be accessed and delivered nationally.
The package consists of a resource kit that provides all that is needed to
run the 2 hour seminar. The kit includes:
• Facilitator’s manual with full instructions for the seminar delivery
• Video/DVD demonstrating coaching practices and supporting the seminar delivery
• CD with power point presentation and artwork for a poster and flyer to advertise
the seminars
• Sample of the poster and the flyer
• Operational policy document detailing who to target, how, where and when
the seminars can be run and how to access CRSP funding to do so
For more information about this programme you can access the operational policy document on this website. Alternatively you can contact your regional education advisor or Julia Dawson, national programmes adviser, national office.
The Drivetime seminars kit is now available from your regional office. If you have identified a need for this seminar in your area applications can be made for funding through the CRSP to deliver this programme in the 2005-2006 year.
The Road Safety Innovation Awards were held on 22 February in the Grand Hall, Parliament at a ceremony hosted by Transport Safety Minister Hon Harry Duynhoven. Taking out the joint Premier Award was the Community category winner ‘Safe in his hands’ by the Tongan Methodist Church, New Lynn. The church was assisted by an inter agency team including Kitch Cuthbert and Maria Connelly, Road Safety Co-ordinators from Waitakere City Council. The prize-giving was the culmination of the second national awards programme for breakthroughs in New Zealand road safety. Click here to read the full press release.
New traffic rules for pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and roundabouts came into force on 27 February as part of the Land Transport Road User Rule. For more information please see the New Road Rules section on the Land Transport NZ website.
Job vacancy, road safety co-ordinator,Wairarapa Road Safety Council. Click here to view the job advertisement.
A new national CRSP application form has been introduced for the 2005/06 funding round. All community development, programmes and personnel applications should be made using this form. CRSP advertising fund applications will continue to be submitted using the separate advertising application form. Exemplars of project applications using the new national CRSP application form and the CRSP advertising application form are now available. Click here to obtain the forms and view the exemplars.
Local and national events of interest to the road safety community can now be added by end users to this website. Please note all events added will be subject to approval by the website administrator before they go live on the site. Click here to add a forthcoming event or view the submission form.
Effective programme process for safety belt and intersection activities are now available to download in the projects policy section.
The latest issue of the CRSP's newletter 'what's up' is now available to download.
What's up volume 3, December 2004 (PDF, 129 kb)
Land Transport New Zealand has become aware of a growing trend for schools to be approached by organisations offering free school ‘road safety resources’ such as road safety homework books and school crossing flags.
These organisations approach road safety co-ordinators, parents and local businesses to advertise in their publications or for donations towards these road safety initiatives. They sometimes use Land Transport NZ or local schools’ names as an endorsement. However these organisations operate as commercial entities and are in no way endorsed by Land Transport NZ.
Please get in touch with me if you are contacted by one of these organisations.
Maria Cunningham
Senior Education Advisor
Land Transport New Zealand
04 931 8799
Feedback from delegates who attended the inaugural community road safety conference held at Waipuna conference centre in Auckland from 25-27 August confirms that the conference was "an overwhelming success" said conference organiser Debbie Player.
The conference was attended by 345 representatives from community groups, local councils, police, ACC, healthcare and the government sector.
Presentations made by the keynote speakers and some of the workshop facilitators are now available to download from this website in the Learning and resources section.
Open from 19 July until 26 October, the 2004 Road Safety Innovation Awards recognise innovation in road safety, and encourage individuals and organisations in the road transport industry, business sector and community, to pursue innovative practices to improve road safety. The entries will be judged by a panel of experts and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Wellington in February 2005.
The winner in each award category receives a cash prize of $2000, with the overall Premier Award winner receiving an additional $3000 cash prize.
There are five categories, plus the premier award:
Road Safety Education Award
Road Safety Community Award
Road Safety in Organisations Award
Road Safety Vehicle Based Award
Road Safety Road Engineering Award
Premier Award
Inspired by the Prince Michael Road Safety Awards in the UK, the New Zealand awards highlight examples of road safety innovation in this country with the aim of encouraging others to follow suit. To be eligible for the awards, innovations must have originated within New Zealand or have been significantly adapted for New Zealand conditions.
For more information visit www.roadsafetyinnovationawards.org.nz
Templates for the CRSP advertising funding, quarterly reports and final reports
are now available to download from this website as both PDF and Word documents.
These templates can be found in Other
Documents under Learning & Resources on the top menu.
Health and safety guidelines covering various aspects of CRSP activity delivery are also available in the same section as PDF documents.