MEDIA RELEASE

Monday September 3, 2001
Green Party Spreads More Misinformation

Claims made today by Green Party transport spokesperson Sue Kedgley about truck crashes are incorrect and misleading, Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander said.

Ms Kedgley said in a media release that trucks were involved in 23 percent of all road fatalities in the year to 31 January 2001, or the deaths of 111 people.

“These figures are totally wrong. LTSA figures show that in 2000, there were 70 fatal crashes involving trucks, or 85 deaths. While the trucking industry is not happy with this figure and is continually striving to improve its record, trucks were involved in 18 percent of road deaths, not 23 percent.

Ms Kedgley said that only three percent of total vehicles in New Zealand were trucks. She should not imply that this three percent was responsible for 23 percent of crashes. While trucks do constitute three percent of vehicles, they make up seven percent of traffic on the roads because they drive more kilometers than cars.

“And with more than 70 percent of fatal crashes involving trucks historically being the fault of the other road user, trucks were responsible for less than 5.5 percent of these crashes in 2000.

“The trucking industry is very proactive in initiating ways to improve its safety record. While there is still some way to go, fatal crashes involving trucks in 2000 were at their lowest level in 17 years. This continued a downward trend over recent years.

“Ms Kedgley should get her facts right before making outrageous claims that she cannot substantiate,” said Mr Friedlander.

Details: Tony Friedlander Ph: 04 472 3877 Mob: 025 483 163

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