11. GORDON COPELAND (United Future) Link to this
to the Minister for Transport Safety
What has the Government done since the establishment of the transport safety portfolio to improve transport safety in New Zealand?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) Link to this
A lot, actually. The Government has introduced a number of important changes to improve safety across all modes of transport since the establishment of the portfolio of transport safety in July 2004. Of particular note is the continuing reduction in the road toll. The Government has passed key legislation to enhance the framework for safety and security in line with the Government’s transport strategy objectives and this includes changes to Acts of Parliament, regulations, and rules covering a wide range of safety and security improvements across all modes.
Is the Minister aware that 80 people have died, and a further 70 have been seriously injured by trains—a total of 150 people—in the 4 years to June 2004, which are the latest figures that I could find, and does he believe that to be satisfactory?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
First, the question relates to the period before the initial question; the question the member just asked relates to the period before the portfolio of transport safety was established, but I will still do my best to answer the question. I tell the member that a large number of those fatalities, regrettably, occurred not at level crossings but at places where people were illegally on the railway track. I am particularly concerned when train drivers are faced with the horror and trauma of a person standing on the tracks in front of them, with obvious results.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
Is the Minister for Transport Safety embarrassed by the New Zealand Herald article today that shows that he is the only Cabinet Minister—or member of the executive, actually—to have had two self-drive accidents, and is he even more embarrassed by the fact that the road toll, which has been declining for the last decade, turned round and started increasing directly at the time he was appointed Minister for Transport Safety?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
Well, I never asked that member those sorts of questions when he was the transport Minister, but perhaps I should have, because I would have had a great deal of fun. I can tell the member that, yes, it is quite correct that my ministerial car has had two minor scrapes to the paintwork, one attributable to me and one to my spouse. I can also tell the member that I am pleased to be able to say that the road toll for the last 12 months, going back from today, is 380. I would like to see it improve further. I have not put out any statements on that, because I am aware that these things can go up and down when we have a bad month, a bad holiday period, or a spell of bad weather. What I can tell the member—[ Interruption]—if the member is prepared to listen, is that 380 people have died on our roads, and that is the lowest-ever figure for a 12-month period, back from today.
Peter BrownDoes the Minister share my view that the Government has addressed many of the safety issues as far as the New Zealand shipping industry is concerned by making it difficult for the industry to survive?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
I cannot claim the credit for the last part of the member’s comments. Mr Williamson might like to take a bow here. What I can say is that there have been significant initiatives in terms of maritime safety, and I am very proud to have played a part in those.
Will the Minister commit to making changes to the legislation regarding level crossing safety, including barrier arms and vegetation clearance, given that 36 percent of fatalities and over 40 percent of cases of serious injuries caused by rail collisions occur at level crossings?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
The member’s figures are correct, but I also want to tell the member that many of those crossings would be closed if they had to have barrier arms and items of that nature put in place, because it would simply be uneconomic to keep them open. Many of those crossings are actually legitimate crossings with very low vehicle loads, such as crossings to farms, and so on. But the level crossing issue is one that causes myself and ONTRACK considerable grief, simply because of the stupidity of many of the people who drive through crossings when the warning signs are there and the bells are ringing.
Should Toll NZ have an explicit responsibility to provide clear indications, such as a headlight on at all times and several toots of the horn, when their trains, which can slice through motor vehicles like a hot knife through butter, are approaching level crossings; if not, why not?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
It is an absolute requirement of all locomotives working on Toll Rail operations to have their headlights on at all times. Whether the horn is sounded is largely dependent on the operational policy applying, depending on the type of crossing, the location, the time of day or night, and whether it is in an urban environment, etc. I think we would have a lot more complaints if the horns were sounded in the way the member suggests on every occasion, day or night, whether or not there are vehicles nearby, or any other matter.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
I seek leave to table a graph of New Zealand’s road toll showing the massive turn-round in the positive direction, in line with the member’s appointment to the transport safety portfolio.
Madam SPEAKERHon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
I seek leave to table a document from the Ministry of Transport entitled Rail Safety Targets: Position Paper, December 2005.