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24 April 2007
This week the Coroner’s report into the tragic Unimog accident that killed PTEs David Partington, Ashley Goodwin and Shane Ohlen, at Kawarau Gorge on 23 February, 2005, was released.
While the release of the report will undoubtedly bring back painful memories for all of us, particularly family and friends of those who died, it is a necessary step in ensuring there is a full and transparent investigation into the crash that allows us to improve our systems to ensure the safety of our soldiers and to maintain a professional level of vehicle operations.
The Coroner found the New Zealand Army has “high standards of driver training that are recognised as such by both Land Transport New Zealand and the Automobile Association”, and the Army driver training programme is an “efficient and effective driver training regime”.
However, the Coroner made a number of recommendations on how the Army can improve its already “highly regarded” driver training programme.
Most of these recommendations were met, and some were surpassed, by a 20 point Action Plan recommended by the Army Driver Training Review completed in 2006.
The most important steps being implemented from the 20 point plan are:
- Facilitating the supervision and training of drivers’ post-course to ensure skills and standards are maintained;
- Maintaining the currency of driving instructors, course managers and assessors, and the provision of course guidance material and resources;
- Raising awareness of the importance of the driving task to military operations and the inherent risks faced by task groups operating in NZ and overseas.
This crash has subjected the Army, and its driver training programme, to great public scrutiny. We must be prepared for this, and accept that our performance, not just in driving but in all parts of our training, requires us to be accountable. This scrutiny reinforces our internal measuring and validation systems which make us a professional, internationally reputed Army.
Finally, to the commanders and drivers at unit level, you can have confidence that you are well trained to either lead mounted groupings or perform as a member of a vehicle crew. These skills are highly valued and directly contribute to mission success.
Our profession demands that we are the best at what do as the stakes are high – nowhere is this more evident on a daily basis than in the operation of our vehicles.
“Lead to Win – Drive to Survive” – Kia Kaha
This page was last reviewed on 30 April 2007 and is current.
