Motor Vehicle Crashes in New Zealand 2011 - Ministry of Transport

LEGISLATION 175
for street racing, wheel spinning and pouring
slippery substances on the road to allow wheel
spinning. Offenders can have their vehicles
impounded for 28 days.
2. Setting of Speed Limits Rule was signed on
25 February to come into force on a date to be
determined by the Minister.
3. The Land Transport Management Act came into
force November 2003, replacing provisions in the
Transit NZ Act dealing with road construction and
maintenance and safety funding.
2004 1. The Heavy Vehicle Rule was signed to come into
effect April 2005. This rule codified and updated
existing legislation relating to heavy vehicle
components and equipment.
2. The Vehicle Equipment Rule was signed to come
into effect February 2005.
3. The Vehicle Lighting Rule was signed to come
into effect February 2005.
4. The Road User Rule was signed to come into
effect February 2005. This rule carried over and
updated provisions of the Traffic Regulations
1976.
5. The Land Transport Management Amendment
Act came into effect 1 December 2004, bringing
together the bulk of the functions of Transfund
and Land Transport Safety Authority into one
body, Land Transport NZ. The Land Transport
Amendment Act 2004 also came into force on 1
December 2004. This dealt with consequential
amendments related to the establishment of Land
Transport NZ, as well as making changes to the
Land Transport rule making provisions.
2005 1. The Land Transport Amendment Act 2005 came
into force 5 June 2005. The majority of the
provisions in the Amendment Act came into force
January 2006 or October 2007.
2006 1. Several provisions of the Land Transport
Amendment Act 2005 came into effect January
2006. These provisions included enhanced
targeting of serious and repeat drink drive
offenders.
For example, mandatory 28 day licence
suspension for:
> driving over 40 km/h above the posted speed
limit.
> driving with a blood alcohol level above
130 mg/100 ml.
> a second alcohol offence within 4 years.
> a third alcohol offence within 4 years —
which also attracts a mandatory 28-day
vehicle impoundment.
2. The Driver Licensing Amendment Rule took
effect June 2006 and included changes for older
drivers, overseas drivers and commercial drivers.
3. Removal of periodic, age based practical driving
test for older drivers.
2007 1. The Land Transport Amendment Act 2007 came
into force on 1 October 2007. This introduced
changes to the operator licensing provisions and
logbook and driving hours requirements.
2. The Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing
2007, which came into force on 1 October 2007,
sets out the requirements for obtaining and
retaining a Transport Service Licence. These
provisions apply to passenger, rental goods and
vehicle recovery services, as well as approved
taxi organisations.
3. The Land Transport Rule: Work Time and
Logbooks 2007, came into force on 1 October
2007. This Rule sets out the limits to work times
for drivers of most commercial vehicles, and the
provisions relating to the use of logbooks for
recording work time.
2008 1. The Land Transport Management Amendment
Act 2008 came into effect on 1 August 2008,
bringing together the functions of Transit NZ
(including the management of the State highway
system) and Land Transport NZ into one body,
the New Zealand Transport Agency.
2009 1. The Land Transport (Road User) Amendment
Rule 2009 came into effect on 1 November
2009. The most high-profile changes were:
> a ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones,
and all texting, while driving.
> riders of mopeds and motorcycles must switch
their headlamps on during daylight hours,
unless the vehicle was manufactured before
1 January 1980.
> drivers are required to give way to pedestrians
who are obviously waiting to cross at a
pedestrian crossing.