Truck drivers welcome education

Truck drivers had the chance to up skill on key road safety issues, while enjoying coffee and snacks at a road safety education stop held in Huntly last week.

The key focus of the stop was speed and fatigue management, highlighting speed on corners, plus managing fatigue during work and leisure hours.

The stop was a joint initiative with Waikato District Council, Police, and the NZ Transport Agency. The Road Transport Association NZ, National Road Carriers and Wintec also took part.

Third year nursing students from Wintec offered drivers an opportunity to have a blood pressure and weight check, discuss healthy eating and physical activity, plus the importance of having regular health checks with their General Practitioners / Practice Nurses.

Truck drivers welcomed the stop and the chance to refresh their knowledge in an environment focused on education rather than enforcement, Waikato District Road Safety Co-ordinator Megan Jolly said.

Ms Jolly also said many of the truck drivers surveyed highlighted ‘other motorists’ as posing the greatest road safety risk for them. “Particularly the large numbers of motorists passing trucks at unsafe spots, such as double yellow lines or at the very end of a passing lane.”

40 per cent of drivers surveyed said they had not had a road safety refresher in the last 12 months. They all thought the stops were a great way of reaching drivers, Ms Jolly said.

NZ Transport Agency’s Regional Midlands Manager David Pearks said the stops are a positive way to provide up to date information to truck drivers in addition to their ongoing training.

ENDS

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