The Government wants to know if Kiwis support changes to the Warrant of Fitness system, which would see less frequent inspections for some vehicles.
The Government today opened public consultation on a range of proposed changes to land transport rules.
It included consultation on less frequent inspections for some light vehicles, simplified safety requirements for heavy vehicles, and new safety features for imported cars.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said it was an effort to “modernise” the rules, which he described as “riddled with outdated or nonsensical requirements” that created unnecessary burdens.
“These changes are about increasing our transport system’s productivity and safety.”
Under the proposed changes to WoF inspections, vehicles between four and 10 years old would need to get a new WoF every two years, while those older than 10 years would still need a yearly inspection. The first WoF for new light vehicles would last 4 years.
Light vehicles include cars, motorcycles, mopeds, vans, people-movers, trailers, taxis and rideshares.
Currently, vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2000, are required to get a new WoF every 12 months, while those registered before must get one every six months.
Vehicles under two years old have a valid WoF until the third anniversary of their first registration. Vehicles between two and three years old have a WoF issued for 12 months.
Under the proposed changes, light vehicles operated commercially under five years old would need to obtain a new CoF A every year rather than every 6 months.
“New Zealand currently has one of the most frequent regimes globally. We want to make sure we’re not placing unnecessary costs or time pressures on Kiwis, while still keeping everyone safe on the road,” Associate Transport Minister James Meager said.
He said the Government was also looking at how other countries handled vehicle inspections.
“Europe checks light vehicles every two years, and most states in Australia and provinces in Canada only require a WOF when the vehicle changes ownership, or when a defect is identified.”
The changes would also require checks for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features, where inspectors would check fault lights to see if safety features like Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist are not showing.
Heavier fines and more demerit points for not having a valid WoF/CoF, and for other vehicle offences such as bald or damaged tyres, were also floated.
“The changes proposed aim to reduce unnecessary costs for low-risk vehicles while maintaining safety standards for higher-risk vehicles,” NZTA’s website reads.
In September, new WoF and CoF rules for vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes were introduced, only requiring them to be inspected once a year.
A bill opening the way for driver’s licences, warrants of fitness and certificates of fitness to live on motorists’ phones began its journey through Parlaiment in August.
Additional safety requirements for vehicles
Another change the Government wanted to hear the public’s thoughts on was new safety features to be required on vehicles imported into the country.
New and used light and heavy vehicles would need to have automatic emergency braking, lane keep support systems, and acoustic vehicle alerting systems for ‘quiet’ – electric and hybrid – vehicles.
New and used heavy vehicles would need to have electronic stability control and anti-lock braking systems.
“If these safety features become mandatory, more vehicles in New Zealand will have them sooner,” NZTA said.
“This could help lower the number and the seriousness of crashes, causing most deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”
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Meager also called for consultation on heavy vehicle rule reforms that included the removal of 44T-50MAX permits, the removal of H plates, the incorporation of the Bolster Attachment Code for logging, and a minor amendment to definitions in the HV Rule.
“The Government wants to ensure the land transport regulatory system contributes positively to New Zealand’s economic growth, delivering a safer, more productive transport system that efficiently targets risk,” NZTA said.
“Proposed Rule changes aim to reduce administrative requirements for heavy vehicles and use regulatory and enforcement resources more efficiently.”
Meager said the reforms were about “bringing our land transport regulation into the 21st century”.
“We want to remove costly inefficiencies and put money back into the pockets of Kiwis to drive our economy forward,” he said.
