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

Federated Farmers supports the statement in the Yellow Draft that helmets do not
have to be worn in vehicles fitted with roll bars and seat belts.
2.4 We support the inclusion of side-by-side vehicles in the definition of ‘all-terrain
vehicles’ and in the definition of an ‘agricultural motor vehicle’. From the perspective
of farmers the reference to land management connected with growing crops and
rearing livestock etc. (i.e., the business of farming) in the draft omnibus rule will
cover the vast majority of instances.
2.5 As stated in our previous submission, Federated Farmers believes there may be a
case for including certain categories of all terrain vehicles (such as quad-bikes, three
wheelers, mules, etc. but not motorbikes, dune buggies, utes, farm trucks, land
rovers, etc.) in the definition of an agricultural vehicle, especially as these are
generally used only occasionally on the roads.
2.6 Federated Farmers recommends NZTA consider including certain categories
of all-terrain vehicles (such as quad-bikes, three-wheelers, mules etc.) in the
definition of an ‘agricultural motor vehicle’.
3. COMMENT ON DRIVER LICENSING AND WORKTIME REQUIREMENTS
3.1 There are six rule changes proposed by the review team to the Land Transport
(Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 (the Driver Licensing Rule) and Land Transport Rule:
Work Time and Logbooks 2007 ( the Work Time and Logbooks Rule):
a. Increase the maximum speed limit for holders of Class 1 driver licences
driving agricultural motor vehicles from 30kph to 40kph.
b. Allow the holder of a Class 1 Restricted (R) driver licence to operate a tractor.
c. Extend the range of agricultural vehicles that can be operated by the holder
of a Class 1 driver licence and ensure that there is consistency between
vehicles that can be driven with Class 1 and Class 2 licenses.
d. Allow the holder of an overseas agricultural vehicle to operate an equivalent
vehicle in New Zealand.
e. Simplify and improve the alternative fatigue management scheme.
f. Incorporate in the Rule the principal features of the current Work Time
Variation for Critical Agricultural Operations to provide for an agricultural
variation that applies to the sector as a whole.
3.2 Federated Farmers supports these proposals. A brief comment on each proposal
follows below.
3.3 Driver Licensing
3.4 Federated Farmers strongly supports the proposal, as stated in our initial submission
on the Agricultural Vehicles Review, to increase the maximum speed restriction for
Class 1 drivers driving ‘agricultural motor vehicles’ on the road from 30kph to 40kph.
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