Kia ora SASTA members,

Welcome to a change of season, and the first edition of the SASTA Newsbytes for 2022. We hope you are all keeping well during these uncertain times.

You may have a new Executive representing your region, so please check out this year’s Executive team at the bottom of this bulletin. Always feel free to touch base with your regional representative who is here to help.

Currently planning and brainstorming discussions are underway with Waka Kotahi for the Professional Development Workshop 2022, which was postponed this year. Feedback from last year's workshop will help guide us with our planning. If you have suggestions of topics or speakers that you would like to see included, please let your representative know.

Keep safe and healthy,

Ngā mihi nui - your SASTA Executive.

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Your Stories

If you would like to share some of the great work you’re doing in the winter edition of Newsbytes, send your stories through to your SASTA Executive or email us directly.

Here are some stories from SASTA members around the nation:

Northland Road Safety Trust's Ashley Johnston with sergeant Terry Phillips, of Road Policing, and Lorna Baker from Plunket Whangārei. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northland Car Seat Collaboration

Jodie Adams - Road Safety /Road Safety Education Coordinator.

A car seat initiative between Ashley Johnston, Northland Road Safety Trust, Sergeant Terry Phillips, Kaipara Police Road Policing and Lorna Baker, Plunket Whangarei, has given the area a real boost.

Twenty new car seats were secured in the joint initiative. The seats were distributed to multiple rural police stations in Northland, enabling officers to safely transport children and infants away from emergency situations in remote areas.

Johnston worked closely with Whangārei Plunket injury prevention and car seat service coordinator Lorna Baker to secure the best seats suitable for the majority of children.

Johnston said part of the Trust’s close partnership with Police was to create safer roads within the region for all road users.

Sergeant Terry Phillips said it’s all about “Keeping our young people safe”.

Auckland offers Free Young Drivers’ Workshops

Nisha Mehter - Auckland Transport, Community Transport Coordinator

Auckland Transport has been offering free driver licence workshops to support youth in gaining a Learner, Restricted or Full licence.

All the resources and advice needed to work through the different driver licensing stages are provided free of charge.

For parents who are ready to teach their teenager to drive, resources and specific ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops are also provided at no cost.

Topics covered include:

Information of the different stages of New Zealand’s graduated driver licence.
Advice on how to stay safe when driving.
Resources to help work towards a Learner’s, Restricted or Full Licence.
Insights into what to expect on the test day.
An opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and obtain advice from experienced trainers.

For more information click on the link:

Learn More

Want to know what New Zealanders think about road safety?

Serena Low - Senior Advisor, Communications and Engagement, Waka Kotahi Road Safety Coordinator, Waitaki District Council

The Public Attitudes to Road Safety 2021 report has been released as part of the commitment Waka Kotahi has to delivering Road to Zero.

The report shows public attitudes to road safety topics including speed, vehicle safety, driver fatigue, impairment and distraction, enforcement and Road to Zero/Vision Zero.

The findings reveal that:

• More New Zealanders believe that cycling in urban areas is safe (63%) than unsafe (35%).

• Almost half of the population (44%) think deaths from road crashes are acceptable.

• Most agree that the speed limit around schools in urban areas should be less than 50km/h. Those suggesting 20km/h or 30km/h increased from 68% in 2020 to 74% in 2021.

• There are high levels of support for potential safety initiatives including roadside drug testing (78%), higher fines for mobile phone usage (78%), and increased installation of wire rope median barriers on rural roads (70%).

The report will be published annually to allow the transport sector to understand public feedback and monitor trends.

You can read the full report on the Waka Kotahi website link:

Learn More

Temporary Traffic Management Changes

A draft edition of the New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (NZGTTM) is now ready for feedback. This guide will replace the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM) which has been in place for 20 years.

The new guide uses a risk-based approach where the safety of road workers and road users will be focused upon - people walking, biking and driving. Input from the road safety sector and international practices have been used in the NZGTTM to help contribute to Road to Zero, New Zealand’s road safety strategy.

NZGTTM will not only be useful for construction and maintenance work but also events, emergency response or any activity where a temporary road design is required.

While proven principles underpin the guide, the key change is providing more flexibility to focus on managing safety risks. This approach gives more flexibility to plan and manage risks across a wide range of activities.

Another key change is the guide makes decision making and accountability clearer so that it aligns with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).

Feedback closes Friday 29 April 2022. Click on the link to have your say:

Learn More

Road Safety Week

This year Road Safety Week is being held 9-15 May 2022. The theme will be Road Safety Heroes, celebrating the heroic work of road safety professionals, and explaining how we can all play a part in making journeys safer for everyone.

Click on the link to visit the Road Safety Week website for more information and resources:

Learn More

New Drug-Affected Driving Campaign

Waka Kotahi’s latest road safety campaign - Mixed? Don’t drive - demonstrates the harm of mixing prescription drugs with alcohol and then driving. The campaign was launched 14 March 2022 online and in cinemas.

Research shows that when medications are combined with alcohol and illegal drugs, the risk of being involved in a fatal crash can increase by up to 23 times. Medical experts and others share their views on mixing medications with other substances in the three campaign videos.

Meanwhile, a new roadside drug testing regime is being developed between Waka Kotahi, Ministry of Transport and NZ Police that will come into force in 2023.

You can read more details about the campaign and view the videos by clicking on the link:

Campaign details

AA interview Nicole Rosie, Waka Kotahi CEO

Read about the challenges Waka Kotahi face, and how they’re working to overcome them.

Learn More

Newsletters

Stay up to date with road safety and sustainable transport news by signing up to the following newsletters.

Te Ara ki te Ora - Road to Zero

Make sure you are signed up to receive the Te Ara ki te Ora - Road to Zero newsletter. Keep up to date with all the Road to Zero news by subscribing below.

On the Go

For more information on active transport sign up to the On the Go newsletter.

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Join SASTA

Do you have colleagues who would like to join SASTA, to be a part of our group, share information and support each other in our mission to make our roads safer? Please contact your regional Executive for more information.

Your Executive:

Northland: Jodie Adams
Auckland: Coralie Owens, Matthew Sweetingham
Waikato: TBC
Bay of Plenty, East Coast and Hawkes Bay: Sonia Lynds
Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatu: Marion Webby
Wellington: Mike George
Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough: Gina Persico
Canterbury and West Coast: TBC
Otago and Southland: TBC

Executive Meetings

The Executive meet virtually each month, and at least once in person per year. Please feel free to contact us if you have any issues that you would like raised at our next meeting.