RTF Chief Executive Ken Shirley

An independent review of the whole of the New Zealand driver licensing system by KPMG highlights current failures and the Road Transport Forum (RTF) is calling for these critical issues to be addressed urgently in light of the heavy transport driver shortage.

“Rigorous administration of driver licenses is critical to public safety and the integrity of the whole driver licensing system,” says RTF Chief Executive Ken Shirley.

“The Forum is concerned at the fundamental weakness of the current system as identified in the review and has an expectation that those issues will be addressed as quickly and as thoroughly as possible,” he says.

According to the RTF, the report highlights a range of areas where the current system is failing, including the lack of effective quality assurance and contract management processes. However, what is most concerning is the inability of staff to ensure the validity of overseas licenses and identity information and non-compliance with the exemption process for overseas conversions.

“It is disappointing that there are so many holes in the current system and that existing processes are deemed to be so ineffective,” says Shirley.

“Our regulatory authorities have an obligation to all road users to make sure that any licenses issued are valid and not fraudulently obtained, which is particularly important when it comes to heavy vehicle licences,” he says.

“Piloting a heavy vehicle is a highly skilled occupation that demands the utmost professionalism and brings with it a high level of responsibility. A driver with a fraudulently obtained licence lets down our whole industry and is a danger to themselves and other road users,” says Shirley.

“The Road Transport Forum wholeheartedly supports ongoing work by the Police to investigate allegations of driver licensing fraud and is committed to working with regulatory authorities to re-establish the integrity of our licensing system,” he says.