Safety-conscious organisations from New Zealand and Australia have been recognised for working hard to reduce incidents involving at-work drivers and vehicles during the eighth annual Australasian Fleet Champions Awards.

The awards, run by Brake, the road safety charity and supported by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, acknowledge companies and individuals who have implemented successful initiatives, products or services to tackle fleet safety.

The winners were announced at an awards ceremony in Auckland, and virtual ceremony online, on 20 October. Individual awards were sponsored by Bridgestone, First Rescue, Fleetcoach, Suzuki and Waka Kotahi.

The awards are held annually and are part of Brake’s Global Fleet Champions initiative, a global partnership campaign to prevent crashes and reduce pollution by vehicles used for work purposes.

As well as categories for organisations, two individual awards were presented to fleet professionals including the prestigious Outstanding Commitment to Road Safety Award, which was awarded to Hamish Piercy from NZI.

FMG won the Company Driver Safety Award, while the Fleet Safety Product Award went to e-Driving and Innovation Group.

The Road Safety in the Community Award, sponsored by Bridgestone, was awarded to AMI, while the Sustainable Journeys Award went to Zilch.

The Safe Vehicles Award was won by the Council of the City of Sydney.

Road Risk Manager of the Year Award went to: Sarah McLachlan – Manuka Health, and the Outstanding Commitment to Road Safety Award, sponsored by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency went to Hamish Piercy – NZI.

“We are delighted to see organisations working hard to help ensure their employees, contractors and other road users get home safely every day,” said Caroline Perry, Brake’s NZ director.

“The organisations represented at the awards are striving to make a real difference to fleet and road safety, and we hope their work and achievements inspire other organisations to implement measures to address their own risks too,” she said.

“Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended entrants at the eighth Fleet Champions Awards.”

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Senior Manager Road Safety, Fabian Marsh added, “Waka Kotahi shares the same commitment to improving road and fleet safety and reducing emissions as all the businesses and organisations represented at the awards do.

“We’re proud to once again support the Fleet Champions Awards and to acknowledge those who take the necessary steps to improve the safety of at-work drivers and the public on the road,” he said.

“We congratulate this year’s winner of the Outstanding Commitment to Road Safety Award, Hamish Piercy from NZI.”