Red Cross says the footage of an aborted overtaking in one of its vehicles filmed near Nelson is shocking and an investigation has been launched.
Red Cross New Zealand has apologised and is investigating after a staff member driving a branded car was filmed attempting to overtake another vehicle and driving into oncoming traffic.
Footage posted on social media shows the vehicle attempting to overtake despite a line of cars approaching. The attempt was aborted with just seconds to spare.
New Zealand Red Cross secretary general Sarah Stuart-Black said the incident had been reported to police.
“We were shocked by the footage,” Stuart-Black said.
The footage shows a white hatchback car attempting to overtake another vehicle as eight vehicles approach in the other direction.
An oncoming vehicle pulls off the road slightly to avoid the Red Cross car.
“We are conducting a full investigation into the incident in line with our employment policies, our safe driver policy, and our code of conduct. The driver is co-operating fully with the investigation.”
Stuart-Black confirmed the incident occurred near Nelson at about 4pm on March 27.
Red Cross launched its investigation the next day, when it was alerted to the incident.
The staff member was immediately stood down from driving Red Cross vehicles, Stuart-Black said.
“This behaviour does not align with our values and we sincerely apologise (...) to all those who were involved in the incident or have been concerned about it.”
Stuart-Black said Red Cross had a safe driving policy which was reviewed regularly and unsafe driving behaviour was a breach of that policy.
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