Editorial: Making inroads to safer travel

FILE

On the same day we reported on a Rotorua Bike Festival event promoting truck and cycle safety, the road freight industry has spoken up about the recent spate of fatal crashes involving trucks.

Three people died this week when their car crossed a highway centreline near Tokoroa, into the path of an oncoming truck. It was just the latest in a series of fatal incidents involving trucks on the nation's roads.

Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley said the number of these collisions had caused concern within the industry.

He said being involved in a fatal crash could ruin a truck driver's life, and that reports of fatal crashes that attributed blame to the truck driver were upsetting.

That makes sense, but his statement should not go unquestioned. Responsible news media will not incorrectly attribute blame - but will report the facts of the incident.

Trucks are over-represented in serious crashes, but Mr Shirley is on solid ground saying it's most often not the truck driver's fault. These guys are professional drivers, often with years of experience on the roads. Ministry of Transport statistics show truck drivers have the primary responsibility for a fatal crash for only about a third of such incidents.

As we quoted yesterday from the ministry, trucks are over-represented because the size imbalance in collisions more often results in death or serious injury.

The industry should be commended for its moves to increase road user safety. Wednesday's event in Rotorua, at which truck drivers and cyclists got together to highlight and understand how each other sees the road, is a great example. Kudos to the organisers.