Latest news with #laAraAotearoa
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Everyone Can Help Make Our Roads Safer
Press Release – la Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand The roads are truckies workplaces, and they want them to be as safe as they can be for everyone. A bit of patience and courtesy go a huge way to making sure everyone has a good trip. The theme of this week's Road Safety Week is Be a Road Safety Hero and Transporting New Zealand has some tips for getting your superhero cape on. CEO Dom Kalasih says everybody can help make the roads safer, from truckies in the big rigs, to motorists and cyclists. In particular, he says some key things make the roads much safer for everyone. 'The roads are truckie's workplaces, and they want them to be as safe as they can be for everyone,' he says. 'A bit of patience and courtesy go a huge way to making sure everyone has a good trip.' Four top safety tips around trucks are; Leave the gap. Don't pull in front of a truck just because there's a space. Truck drivers like a decent space in front because they take about twice the distance to stop than a car does. Make yourself seen. Trucks have blindspots. If you can't see their wing mirrors, they can't see you. And if it's wet, put on your car lights so you stand out behind the spray that gets kicked up.. Cyclists can help by wearing some fluro. There are a few riders who think dressing in black like a ninja at night is a good idea. It's really not. It's SH1, not F1 Trucks legally can only do 90 km/h. If you want to pass, give yourself plenty of space if you're using a passing lane. You might have 40 metres to pass so make sure there is plenty of space for you and anybody else who plans on getting through by the time the passing lane ends. Here's an example of what not to do, taken on a road outside Rotorua. Tired? Pull over Feeling sleepy? Find a safe place to pull over and have a micro-rest. The AA says a 15-20 minute power nap provides the brain with the best pick-me-up. Some water and a banana are always handy for keeping energised.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Everyone Can Help Make Our Roads Safer
Press Release – la Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand The roads are truckies workplaces, and they want them to be as safe as they can be for everyone. A bit of patience and courtesy go a huge way to making sure everyone has a good trip. The theme of this week's Road Safety Week is Be a Road Safety Hero and Transporting New Zealand has some tips for getting your superhero cape on. CEO Dom Kalasih says everybody can help make the roads safer, from truckies in the big rigs, to motorists and cyclists. In particular, he says some key things make the roads much safer for everyone. 'The roads are truckie's workplaces, and they want them to be as safe as they can be for everyone,' he says. 'A bit of patience and courtesy go a huge way to making sure everyone has a good trip.' Four top safety tips around trucks are; Leave the gap. Don't pull in front of a truck just because there's a space. Truck drivers like a decent space in front because they take about twice the distance to stop than a car does. Make yourself seen. Trucks have blindspots. If you can't see their wing mirrors, they can't see you. And if it's wet, put on your car lights so you stand out behind the spray that gets kicked up.. Cyclists can help by wearing some fluro. There are a few riders who think dressing in black like a ninja at night is a good idea. It's really not. It's SH1, not F1 Trucks legally can only do 90 km/h. If you want to pass, give yourself plenty of space if you're using a passing lane. You might have 40 metres to pass so make sure there is plenty of space for you and anybody else who plans on getting through by the time the passing lane ends. Here's an example of what not to do, taken on a road outside Rotorua. Tired? Pull over Feeling sleepy? Find a safe place to pull over and have a micro-rest. The AA says a 15-20 minute power nap provides the brain with the best pick-me-up. Some water and a banana are always handy for keeping energised.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Driver Well-Being A Key Issue In Survey
Press Release – la Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand A total of 78 per cent of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the road freight industry, a major survey of the sector has found. The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of 194 industry participants across 128 road freight businesses was run by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also promoted by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ and represents the most extensive industry snapshot in more than a decade. A total of 78 per cent of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. Finding new drivers and an aging workforce were also big issues for the sector. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that 'up to 25 per cent' or more would retire or leave the industry in the next five years. The survey painted a gloomy picture for business at the moment – only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins. Concerns about the state of New Zealand's roads were nearly universal. The vast majority (93 per cent) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent). However, one bright spot in the survey for truck drivers is how the public sees them. While freight industry people believe the public have a negative perception of professional drivers, that is not the case. A poll of 1000 New Zealanders conducted by Research NZ painted a more favourable picture, with 52 per cent saying they view professional road freight drivers positively; and only 7 per cent expressing a negative view. (Only 20 per cent of industry people had thought the public viewed them positively.)
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Driver Well-Being A Key Issue In Survey
Press Release – la Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand A total of 78 per cent of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the road freight industry, a major survey of the sector has found. The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of 194 industry participants across 128 road freight businesses was run by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also promoted by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ and represents the most extensive industry snapshot in more than a decade. A total of 78 per cent of respondents in the survey called for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent said it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. Finding new drivers and an aging workforce were also big issues for the sector. Almost one-half of industry respondents (47 per cent) indicated that 'up to 25 per cent' or more would retire or leave the industry in the next five years. The survey painted a gloomy picture for business at the moment – only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins. Concerns about the state of New Zealand's roads were nearly universal. The vast majority (93 per cent) agreed that poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. A significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent). However, one bright spot in the survey for truck drivers is how the public sees them. While freight industry people believe the public have a negative perception of professional drivers, that is not the case. A poll of 1000 New Zealanders conducted by Research NZ painted a more favourable picture, with 52 per cent saying they view professional road freight drivers positively; and only 7 per cent expressing a negative view. (Only 20 per cent of industry people had thought the public viewed them positively.)
