The committee reminds all van drivers that they should fully understand the club’s policies on driving vehicles on club trips. Travelling to and from a road end is likely to be the most dangerous part of any trip into the hills, and it is particularly important that van occupants and other road users feel safe, and risks are minimised, when club vans are being used for transport.
You can view the WTMC driver protocols in full on the website. Below is a summary of some key points, posted originally by the previous transport officer.
The club requires that drivers on club trips will:
- Strictly follow the road code. This obviously includes not exceeding the speed limit, driving to the road conditions, and never using mobile phones while driving
- Not drink any alcohol in the 24 hours before driving a vehicle
- Drive at a speed and in a manner that is comfortable for all those travelling in the vehicle and also shows consideration for other road users. NOTE that this may well be significantly lower than the legal speed limit and will depend on such things as road and weather conditions and traffic density
- Pay for any traffic fines they incur. Clearly this will not be an issue if the driver follows the road code
- Follow the terms of any rental vehicle agreement
- Report any damage or mechanical issues with a van to the transport officer promptly.
Please understand that if you are a passenger in a van on a club trip and you are concerned about the way the van is being driven, the best thing to do is to raise this with the driver at the time so that they can modify their driving. You can read the club’s expectations of both drivers and passengers in the driver protocols. A copy of the driver protocols is also available in each van.
If you ever have immediate concerns about the way a van is being driven and do not feel you can discuss with the driver directly please talk to others in the vehicle and ensure that someone else raises this with the driver. You can also contact the transport officer by phone on 021 251 6013, or contact any other member of the committee.
The committee actively welcomes feedback on driving after any trip and comments can be emailed to . All feedback will be treated in strict confidence.
We are always keen for members to become van drivers. To become a driver, all you need to do is complete the forms on the club website and return them to , along with a copy of both sides of your driver’s license. You will also be asked to sign a copy of the driver protocols. The club van driving policy and more information about driving vans can also be found on the website.
More information about driving club vans can be found at https://wtmc.org.nz/van-keys-and-transport.