Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Offences relating to chain of responsibility

79T: Offence to cause or require driver to breach speed limits, maximum work time, or rest time requirements

You could also call this:

“You can get in trouble for making a driver break road rules”

You can get in trouble if you make a driver do things they shouldn’t. If you cause a driver to break the rules, even if you’re not the only reason, you might have to pay a fine of up to $25,000. Here are some things you can’t make a driver do:

Go faster than the speed limit. This applies if you knew or should have known the driver would go too fast, and if the driver is someone who has to follow special driving rules.

Work for longer than they’re allowed to. You can’t make a driver work more hours than the law says is okay.

Not take enough rest breaks. Drivers need to rest, and you can’t make them skip their rest time.

Not fill out their logbook properly. Drivers have to keep a record of their work and rest times, and you can’t tell them not to do this.

Remember, even if you didn’t mean to, if you cause a driver to do any of these things, you could be breaking the law. It’s important to make sure drivers follow the rules for everyone’s safety.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM434881.

Previous

79S: Defences to logbook offences, or

"How you can defend yourself if accused of breaking logbook rules for drivers"

Next

79U: Offence to cause or require driver to breach maximum gross weight limits, or

"It's against the law to make a driver use a vehicle that's too heavy"

Part 6C Offences relating to chain of responsibility

79TOffence to cause or require driver to breach speed limits, maximum work time, or rest time requirements

  1. Every person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $25,000, who, by act or omission, directly or indirectly causes or requires (whether or not the sole cause) a driver to—

  2. exceed any applicable speed limit if that—
    1. person knew, or should have known, that the speed limit would be, or would likely be, exceeded; and
      1. driver is a driver to whom subpart 1 of Part 4B applies; or
      2. exceed the maximum work time prescribed in this Act or the rules if that person knew, or should have known, that the maximum work time would be, or would likely be, exceeded; or
        1. fail to comply with the rest time requirements prescribed in this Act or the rules if that person knew, or should have known, that the rest time requirements would not be, or would likely not be, complied with; or
          1. fail to maintain a logbook in the prescribed manner if that person knew, or should have known, that the failure to maintain the logbook would contravene subpart 2 of Part 6B.

            Notes
            • Section 79T: inserted, on , by section 40 of the Land Transport Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 77).