Feds Question benefit of Frontal Impact Standards

27 November 2001 PR176/01

Feds Question benefit of Frontal Impact Standards

Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Vice President Tom Lambie has urged the Government to delay the introduction of the proposed new frontal impact standards on motor vehicles pending further analysis of the costs and benefits and following a further round of wide consultation.

"The Federation is very concerned that the economic analysis from the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) shows that the costs of the early introduction of would impose significant costs on the economy for little or no benefit," said Mr Lambie.

Furthermore such a move may well reduce rather than increase safety standards over the short term and potentially impose costs on those individuals and families least able to absorb them.

"Cost-effective transport options are critically important to the agricultural sector," said Mr Lambie. "Growth in employment opportunities in rural communities necessitates the need for cost-effective transport for young people to commute to the many opportunities available in the rural economy.

"It would be of significant concern to Federated Farmers if moves to tighten standards of the motor vehicle fleet resulted in a reduction in the ability of young people to enter the labour market and could adversely impact on lower income families as the LTSA analysis suggests.

Clearly the down stream economic and social effects of such a policy needs to be fully analysed by Government before they proceed any further," Mr Lambie concluded.

For more information: Tom Lambie, Pager 026 113 161 Gavin Forrest, PH 03 366 8416 John Pask, PH 04 473 7269

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