Watch Out For Your Postie

03 February 2006

New Zealand Post Calls On Kiwis To Watch Out For Their Postie

New Zealand Post is calling on the public to keep an eye out for their local postie in an effort to help reduce the amount of injuries caused by moving vehicles or cars backing out of driveways.

Over the last six months there have been more than sixty posties hit by a vehicle in the line of duty. While many of the injuries were not serious a small number did require hospitalisation.

General Manager of Postal Delivery, Matthew Nant said the issue of posties being injured while out delivering the mail was a considerable one that was being taken very seriously.

"New Zealand Post has a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme that looks to prevent injuries before they occur, however we do have a number of incidents each year where posties are getting injured through no fault of their own. We are asking Kiwis to take special care when going into, or coming out of their driveways and to keep an eye out for their postie and other pedestrians."

As a part of the wider programme to reduce injuries before they occur New Zealand Post is making the wearing of increased visibility vests mandatory for its fleet of bicycle posties, who are part of nearly 2000 posties who deliver mail six days a week.

"While our walking posties have reflector strips on their bags and motorbike posties already wear visibility vests, until now the vests have not been worn by cycle posties. These vests are a tried and tested safety tool used in many other industries in New Zealand including forestry, roading and construction. By making our bicycle posties more visible we are sure that we can reduce the amount of injuries.

"If these vests result in one less injury then they will have been worth it," said Mr Nant.

Peter McDonald, a postie of six years, who broke his ankle last year after being knocked down by a car reversing out of a driveway said it was the first serious accident he has had while on his round but he counted himself lucky.

"While I suffered a broken ankle and some bruising and was out of work for twelve weeks, I am thankful I was wearing my helmet as I have been told it could have been a lot more serious and maybe now with these increased visibility vests and Kiwis more aware of us, injuries like mine will be a thing of the past."

ENDS

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