25 July 2014
Gold Star Status for Council Vehicles

Monday is a gold star day for the city’s fleet of vehicles when the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) welcomes the council into its Fleet Saver membership.

The new ACC programme launched late last year aims to make roads safer by encouraging and rewarding safety among operators of large heavy vehicle fleets, with ACC motor levy discounts by up to 40 per cent.

A total of 49 council vehicles of 3500 kgs-plus have achieved the programme’s ‘Gold’ level status. To qualify, they completed an initial assessment and passed a site audit conducted by ACC. Each vehicle will receive a decal for the door so the public can recognise their new status.

“We’re extremely proud that our vehicles are to receive the highest level Gold status first time up,” says Ray McIndoe, General Manager City Enterprises. “The council works hard for best practice safety standards, to help make roads safer not only for our staff but for all road users.”

Mr McIndoe says the programme’s safe driving practices have other benefits such as fuel savings and maintenance costs, and it complements the council’s tertiary health and safety accreditation.

Background about the ACC Fleet Saver Programme
The programme aims to help foster a safety culture among operators of large, heavy vehicle fleets, to make the roads safer for all users. In crashes involving heavy trucks, often it’s occupants in the other vehicles involved who come out worst off – so everyone on the road benefits from safer trucks. The programme focuses on heavy trucks because they’re big and they weigh more – trucks don’t crash very often, but when they do, they’re more likely to cause fatalities and serious injuries.

Key statistics
• Trucks make up 6%* of total kilometres travelled on NZ roads but are involved in 17%* of fatal crashes (*MoT statistics).
• Claims from crashes involving trucks account for 20% of motor vehicle related ACC claims costs.
• The cost of claims for on-road injuries involving trucks is $80 million per year.
• The number, length and weight of trucks on our roads is expected to increase significantly the next 20 years.

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