New safety centre opens
The new commercial vehicle safety centre on the outskirts of Taupō.
A new commercial vehicle safety centre in Taupō is now operating.
It is the latest in a series of 12 safety centres the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is building on high-volume freight routes around the country.
The centre, on the corner of SH1 and SH5 is complemented by scales installed under surrounding roads, number plate recognition cameras, and electronic signage.
It is designed to identify unsafe driving practices and non-compliance amongst heavy vehicles, with vehicles then directed into the centre for further inspection from Police.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says it will help target unsafe heavy vehicles and improve road safety on one of New Zealand’s busiest freight routes,
“From 2012 to 2021, heavy vehicles were involved in more than 20% of fatal crashes, despite making up only 6% of total travel. Nearly 90 per cent of those killed in these crashes were not in the heavy vehicle.
“That’s why we’re investing more than $200 million in a national network of new and upgraded safety centres to better target high-risk operators and reduce serious crashes.
“This allows NZ Police and NZTA to quickly identify issues like overweight loads, expired Certificates of Fitness, and that drivers are taking their rest breaks.
“These new and upgraded safety centres will help ensure heavy vehicle operators are playing by the rules, while keeping compliant vehicles moving.
“Compliance officers can also focus efforts on high-risk cases, while automation does the rest, boosting safety and efficiency for all road users.”
When a heavy vehicle is required for inspection, its number plate will be shown on the electronic signage, telling the driver to pull into the centre for an inspection by the NZ Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team (CVST).
When Police aren’t onsite, the in-road technology still collects data on passing vehicles 24/7, allowing NZTA and Police can better target education and compliance work.
Centres are already operating in Glasnevin (north Canterbury), Rakaia (south Canterbury), Ohakea (Manawatū), Paengaroa (Bay of Plenty) and Stanley Street (central Auckland).