Submission on Draft Land Transport Rule, Agricultural Vehicles ...

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4.22 Pilot vehicle requirements 4.23 Federated Farmers supports the proposal to relax the requirements for agricultural motor vehicles travelling in a convoy to be accompanied by a Class 2 pilot vehicle. 4.24 It is proposed that over-dimension category 1 and 2 agricultural motor vehicles travelling in a convoy of three or less vehicles would not be required to have a pilot for each agricultural vehicle. This is provided there is a pilot vehicle positioned at the front and at the rear of the convoy. 4.25 This amendment would only apply to areas where adequate visibility is maintained, where there is not adequate visibility on the roads a pilot vehicle would still be required for every over-sized agricultural vehicle. 4.26 We agree that removing the piloting requirement altogether for oversized agricultural vehicles would raise too many concerns about safety. 4.27 Removal of forks and other equipment fitted to the front 4.28 Federated Farmers supports the proposal to clarify that operators do not have to remove forks and other mounted implements fitted to the front arms of agricultural vehicles. 4.29 Under the External Projections Rule an operator of an agricultural vehicle has to show they are following best practice and meeting the requirements set out in the Agricultural Vehicles Guide 2009. Federated Farmers believes this is a sensible safety precaution. 5. COMMENT ON ROAD USER AND VEHICLE LIGHTING AMENDMENTS 5.1 Although some concern has been expressed to us about an ‘over saturation’ of flashing lights, Federated Farmers supports the proposal that slow moving agricultural vehicles registered from May 2013 require to be fitted with and to use amber beacons. We will also be encouraging farmers to use them even if their vehicles were registered before that date. 5.2 The value of the beacon is when there is a large difference between speed of the vehicle and the speed of the traffic. Concern has been expressed to us that they could be a distraction for drivers in built up areas moving at much the same speed as the agricultural vehicle. On the other hand, the large size of agricultural vehicles and their density relative to other road users makes it important that warning is provided to motorists who do not regularly come into proximity of such large vehicles. 5.3 Federated Farmers accepts that the amber flashing beacon must be visible for at least 100m. Where a towed vehicle obscures the amber flashing beacon another beacon may be fitted on to the towed vehicle. 6. VEHICLE INSPECTION (AND LICENSING) REQUIREMENTS 10
6.1 There are several changes proposed for vehicle inspection requirements: a. The removal of periodic (warrant of fitness/certificate of fitness (WoF/CoF)) inspection requirement for agricultural motor vehicles that are operated at speeds not exceeding 40kph. b. A revised and simplified WoF inspection for agricultural motor vehicles that are operated at speeds exceeding 40kph, with no CoF requirement. c. Annual vehicle inspections for vehicles that are operated at speeds exceeding 40kph, rather that six monthly. 6.2 Federated Farmers supports these proposals. A brief comment on these proposals follows below. We have also provided comment on agricultural vehicle licensing. 6.3 Agricultural Vehicle Inspection Regime 6.4 Federated Farmers supports the proposal that there be no periodic inspection for agricultural vehicles that only travel up to 40kph, a revised and simplified annual WoF for agricultural vehicles operating above 40kph, and an expanded mobile service network to enable WoF inspections to be carried out on-farm. These are all very sensible and helpful proposals. 6.5 We note that the operators of farm vehicles will still be subject to a duty of care to keep their vehicles in a road worthy condition when operating on road. Federated Farmers supports the development of an annual safety check list for all agricultural vehicles used on the roads. 6.6 The Federation has also made this recommendation the Vehicle Licensing Reform’s review team. We would be happy to work with NZTA to develop such a safety checklist. 6.7 Agricultural trailers and towed implements 6.8 Federated Farmers is pleased that NZTA has decided not to change the current licensing regime for agricultural trailers and towed implements. 6.9 Towed agricultural vehicles pose very little safety risk to other road users when towed at speeds in conformity with manufacturers specifications for axle loadings and tyre speed and weight ratings. As stated above Federated Farmers supports the development of an annual safety check list for all agricultural vehicles used on the roads. 6.10 As stated in section 6, the Federation believes developing a series of agricultural vehicle specific safety checklists explaining what is needed to ensure the vehicle is well maintained would make it easier for operators to meet the minimum safety standards. 6.11 Agricultural Vehicle Licensing 11
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Submission on Draft Land Transport Rule, Agricultural Vehicles ...

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