15 Apr 2014

Labour would keep trucks in slow lane

10:38 pm on 15 April 2014

The Labour Party says registrations should be dropped for light trailers and caravans, and heavy trucks should be made to stay out of the fast lane on motorways.

Labour says its election-year transport announcement would make life easier for New Zealand families driving on the roads.

Deputy leader David Parker says under a Labour government, trucks with a speed limit of 90 km per hour would not be allowed in the fast lane.

He says it is extremely frustrating for Auckland's 1.5 million residents that at times the fast lane is blocked by slow trucks.

"In respect of trailers, why should people pay a registration fee for a trailer that's always attached to a car?" he says.

Labour would also lower road user charges for motorhomes and campervans.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says the policy is a joke as trucks do not hog the fast lane, and road user charges are needed for the roading network.

He says about 70 percent of the registration fee for caravans and light trailers is made up of Accident Compensation Corporation levies.