Recreational users top safety concerns in forest road traffic control review
A majority of respondents to a recent industry survey say they have encountered mountain bikers, hunters, trampers and trail runners on private forest roads - often suddenly and in the middle of high‑risk operations.
The findings come from the Forest Industry Safety Council’s (FISC) recent survey undertaken as part of its review of the Best Practice Guideline for Temporary Traffic Control on Private Forest Roads (BPG), which drew a strong and detailed response from across the forestry sector.
Forest owners to log truck drivers responded, endorsing the guideline that has underpinned safe traffic management in forests since 2007.
The BPG introduced the ‘STOP – PROCEED ONLY WHEN INSTRUCTED’ system, minimum standards for closures and barriers, and a practical, plain‑language approach that operators say has stood the test of time.
Respondents also praised its clarity, structure, and visual examples, while suggesting some important guidance had been lost in the move from paper to digital circulation, and identifying areas where the guidelines need to evolve.
However, review programme manager Nic Steens says there was one issue that dominated: recreational users.
More than 70% of respondents reported regular encounters with mountain bikers, hunters, trampers, and trail runners at active traffic control points or unexpectedly during high‑risk operations.
“These users often lacked radios, forestry awareness, or even the understanding that they are entering an active worksite.” Steens says.
“The current guideline was never designed with them in mind - but the next edition will be.”
FISC chief executive Joe Akari was grateful for the level of feedback the sector had provided - enabling the identification of important issues such as this.
“This is another example of how genuinely engaged our industry is. The responses were practical and well-balanced, bringing to light issues that a desk review alone would never have found. That’s exactly why collaboration like this matters so much.”
Steens says the survey also sharpened legal and operational considerations, with respondents seeking clearer guidance on areas such as how a locked gate and clear signage translates into legal protection for operators under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The rise of farm forestry was also identified as an emerging issue. As 1990s woodlots reach harvest age, more operations are relying on shared driveways used by both residents and farmers.
“The updated guideline will include a new chapter on shared access ways, developed with the NZ Farm Forestry Association and Small Scale Forestry Owners - guidance that has not previously existed,” Steens says.
The conversation is now widening beyond the industry, with a similar survey underway with recreational groups. This closes Friday, 3 July, and aims to understand the challenges these users face at traffic control points and how best to educate them.
Steens says that once complete, the findings report will be shared with working groups and stakeholders, and that the revised BPG is on track for publication later this year.
Recreational forest user survey
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