Resources

This report presents the results of an independent evaluation undertaken by Allen and Clarke between January and July 2015 on the effectiveness of the NZ Transport Agency (the Transport Agency) procurement policy framework and its implementation by four road controlling authorities (RCAs) in physical works and professional services procurement. A review of international and national literature identified key success factors for good practice in outsourced procurement and informed the development of an evaluation framework. The Transport Agency’s policy governance and implementation by RCAs in Auckland, Ruapehu, Dunedin and Central Otago were assessed against the framework using stakeholder interviews and site document data.

Making urban cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice is now a NZ Transport Agency strategic priority. Currently, road trauma for cycling is lower than other modes; however, unless a safer system for cyclists is developed, including more effective cycling education, an increase in road trauma is likely with increased investment and promotion. The research first identified key cycle safety interventions through the development and application of a cycling safety system model. The development of this model, a first for New Zealand, was informed by contemporary models of crash causation, which examined distal and proximal crash causation factors. Key findings were the need for a strong mandate and strategic direction for cycling, and improved systems to provide for cyclists in road design. Second, the report provides guidance on how best to prepare New Zealanders for utility cycling, drawing on key literature and engagement with stakeholders and end users.

These resources are designed to raise awareness of the risks of driving while taking impairing medication and the signs/symptoms to be aware of. 'Are you safe to drive?' - brochure for doctors and pharmacists to tick and hand to patients/clients

'Is my patient safe to drive?' - information sheet for doctors and pharmacists with background information

'Are you safe to drive' - information sheet for drivers taking medication

The 2015 Government Policy Statement on Land Transport focuses on economic growth, productivity, road safety, and value for money. The transport system must also support economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being. This means that road controlling authorities (RCAs) must mitigate the impacts of their projects on heritage sites without placing an unreasonable funding burden on the economy.  

RCAs such as the Transport Agency have their own approaches for assessing and managing historic and cultural heritage. No consistent national guidelines for heritage conservation actions exist, however, which creates risks and opportunities during project development, delivery and ongoing ownership of heritage. The requirements for heritage conservation follow from designation processes, but do not necessarily strengthen the heritage and cultural values of structures and environments. An economic perspective of such values can improve the value for money of heritage investments, and support New Zealand’s heritage stock.

There are approximately 270 bridges on New Zealand’s state highway network and many more bridges on local roads with steel concrete composite superstructures. From an investigation of as-built records, most of these consist of reinforced concrete decks connected to braced steel I-beams, with welded channels or studs used to provide longitudinal shear connection. Over 70% of these bridges were constructed between 1950 and 1970, of which approximately three quarters were designed by the Ministry of Works. Significant variability currently exists in the assessed live load capacity of composite bridges, even when they are designed to identical design loadings. This report reviews international experiments for shear connectors and the development of design equations in different national standards. A new equation for channel shear connectors was developed and evaluated through reliability analysis to ensure the target margin of safety was achieved.

Reducing driver distraction, including distraction resulting from mobile phone use, is an aim of New Zealand’s Safer Journeys programme. Currently mobile phone usage by New Zealand drivers is captured by self-report or observational surveys. However, studies have indicated that these methodologies might be under-representing actual usage rates. The aims of this study were threefold: first, to establish how drivers’ mobile phone usage has been monitored worldwide through a review of relevant literature; second, to assess whether there was an improved method for monitoring mobile phone usage through a review of available equipment; and, finally to conduct a trial of the identified method to evaluate whether it could improve mobile phone monitoring in New Zealand. Trial results show that a mobile phone detector did not identify all observed mobile activity. However, roadside observers detected a lower level of mobile phone usage in passing vehicles (5.

This project was designed to investigate the importance of drainage maintenance for pavement performance and to recommend a maintenance strategy. With restrained funding for pavement renewals drainage maintenance is a cost-effective method to ensure optimum pavement performance. A combination of repeated load triaxial testing and modelling of water movement has shown that once water has infiltrated the basecourse it can take weeks for the water content to return to its equilibrium condition. During this time significant damage can take place and there is a high probability that further rainfall will occur and thus re-saturate the pavement. A drainage risk rating score card was developed and it is recommended that this be adopted by road controlling authorities.

Performance based standards (PBS) help determine whether non-standard heavy vehicles designs or combinations meet the safety performance requirements equivalent to standard vehicles. The PBS guide sets out how industry and the NZ Transport Agency could manage an updated set of PBS for heavy vehicles. It also includes common questions and answers and a review report setting out the the new PBS in detail. The PBS requirements (as of 22 May 2019) for New Zealand outline both the test procedures and the pass/fail criteria. These PBS requirements are used as a basis for the permitting of high productivity motor vehicles and other vehicles that fall outside of the specifications of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016 (VDAM Rule). Related information:
High productivity motor vehicles (HPMV)