The Army-wide review into driver training, initiated earlier this year by the Chief of Army, Major General Jerry Mateparae, has been finalised. The New Zealand Defence Force review team, after consulting local and international military and civilian experts, have found that the current method and mechanisms used for driver training are significantly better than those available in the civilian sector.
The review was instigated after a Unimog truck accident in February in which three soldiers were killed.
Major General Mateparae says the review makes him confident the Army is providing a very high level of driver training across the organisation and the training is provided in a manner that ensures the Army’s personnel are not exposed to unnecessary risk.
"Confirmation by a number of external organisations and experts who recognise our driver training as being well-developed, very comprehensive, and of a high standard, gives me confidence, as does the fact that we fully comply with all legislative requirements for licensing. What the review has done is highlight a number of areas where we can enhance our already high standards and continue to progress towards providing world class driver training."
Other significant findings of the review include the recognition that demographics play a role in vehicle accidents and that resource constraints are a primary contributor that limits Army’s ability to provide training to the very highest possible standard.