Using an independent testing station is a safe option for vehicle inspections – that is the message of “#MakingDrivingSafer”, a strong new campaign by Vehicle Inspection New Zealand.
VINZ acting chief executive Sean Stevens notes the recent media articles faced by the NZ Transport Agency provided some of the impetus to the #MDS campaign.
“NZTA’s investigations and subsequent suspensions of many garages and inspectors around the country have provided some insight into the state of some inspecting facilities,” Stevens says.
“This has led to an interest from customers in independent testing, where the result is a safer vehicle and is not biased towards a realising profit elsewhere as part of a repair process.”
Stevens says the review of NZTA cases show that inspections carried out by many repairers are deficient and leave road users at risk.
“NZTA’s own media page documents numerous cases of repairers who have shown they cannot provide an inspection service that meets regulatory standards,” he says.
“Their primary interest is in vehicle repair, and inspections are a sidedish on the menu. For us they’re not just the main course, they’re our soleinterest.”
To help people better understand what a safer vehicle looks like and how independent testing can making driving safer, VINZ’s #MDS campaign shares stories based on the experiences and expertise of its staff.
For example, in one story Hamiltonbased senior vehicle inspector, Gary Silverwood, explains why safety is personal to him – his mother was killed
in a car accident.
Today he assists the Police Serious Crash Unit with its vehicle inspections.
In another, VINZ staff explain how efficient processes and qualified independent inspectors help differentiate VINZ testing stations from other forms
of vehicle testing.
Modern technologies and more thorough procedures mean more reliable inspection outcomes and reduced waiting times.
As they are only inspecting vehicles, VINZ staff also have more scope to focus on keeping themselves up to date with current regulation, something assisted by a newly-appointed learning and development specialist.
“We created this role to help our people with the uptake of new technologies in a learning environment as well as to provide better reporting of training outcomes.”
