Fleet Day drives fleet safety and innovation to new heights

Did you know that around 30% of all traffic crashes in New Zealand involve motorists driving for work? 

Not only that, but according to the New Zealand Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Accident Compensation Corporation ACC, vehicle-related fatalities make up at least a third of all fatal workplace injuries in New Zealand. However, this number is likely to be higher, as the purpose of vehicle journeys is not monitored.  

These sobering statistics show just how important fleet management and road safety education is for organisations across the country. 

Since 2012 Waikato Regional Council has been proud to power Fleet Day, New Zealand’s leading fleet management event - and the 2024 EROAD Fleet Day at Mystery Creek on August 7 was the biggest yet. 

This year’s event welcomed record numbers with over 1,200 attendees through the gate, and featured some well-known names like MC and veteran broadcaster Stephen McIvor, former professional rally driver and road safety advocate Greg Murphy, and Rt Hon Sir John Key, former NZ prime minister. 

As always, the focus was firmly on road safety, sustainability and fleet efficiency for both heavy and light commercial vehicles. 

Former professional rally driver and road safety advocate Greg Murphy.

Greg Murphy spoke passionately about the importance of reducing risk through driver training, stressing that it's the responsibility of a business to ensure that they are looking after their employees and those who are driving their vehicles on our roads. But it's also up to the rest of us collectively to make sure we are driving to the best of our abilities and in a safe, responsible, and courteous manner. 

"We need to do a better job of preparing them (drivers) at the beginning of the learning phase to create a better mindset [about road safety]," he said, emphasising a need for better training to ensure new drivers have a deeper understanding of what it means to drive a motor vehicle safely. 

Our road safety and regional transport teams were onsite to chat with attendees about how to increase road safety for their teams and explore the possible emission reduction contribution public transport could make to their fleet. 

Waikato Regional Council’s Road Safety Advisor Jenny Davis has worked on the annual event since its early days. Jenny says that Fleet Day was born out of a need to educate and support employers, fleet managers, and health and safety managers on their responsibilities for on-road health and safety. 

How? By providing information and key messages around people, vehicle and road safety for fleet vehicles, and encouragement to implement changes within their companies, as appropriate.  

This continues to be the driving force behind the annual event. “We want to help organisations get everyone home safe every day,” Jenny says.  

Fleet Day attracts a cross-section of the industry and brings like-minded professionals together to explore the latest trends and challenges in managing fleets of both heavy and light vehicles and the safety of the people who use them.  

This year's event brought together over 1200 delegates, 15-plus speakers and over 70 exhibitors for a jam-packed day full of expert speakers, interactive demonstrations, and networking. 

If you’re lucky enough not to have seen, heard or experienced a car crash, it can be hard to understand the sheer impact and force of it - and how much of a difference speed can make.  

Steven Jones, Road Policing Supervisor for North Western Waikato, spoke to the implications of such crashes during his presentation 'The anatomy of a serious accident - causes and prevention'.  

At the end of his presentation, Steven invited the crowd to gather outside to observe a vehicle collision simulation showcasing the brutal reality of head-on crashes. The drop was carefully engineered alongside safety specialists, with all attendees remaining a safe distance. 

Two identical car models were dropped from differing heights to demonstrate the influence speed has on crash outcomes.  

The first car was dropped from around 30 metres high and plummeted to the ground at about 80 km/h, while the second was hoisted to 60 metres and smashed into the ground at around 120 km/h.

Remember, speed matters. 

The council held the first Fleet Day at Lake Karāpiro in 2012 to address the high rates of fleet vehicle crashes in the Waikato. Police data at the time revealed a significant number of crashes involved fleet vehicles. 

In previous years, feedback indicated that over 80% of attendees found Fleet Day extremely useful and planned to implement changes after attending the event. 

From “around 30 or 40 people” to over 1000 attendees, EROAD Fleet Day continues to grow and evolve, supporting the fleet industry as it tackles safety, efficiency and environmental challenges. 

So, if you're involved in fleet management in our region, we look forward to seeing you next year at what no doubt will be another fantastic Fleet Day.