Making Driving Safer – Scott Clark

“Ensuring vehicles are fit for New Zealand roads is important to me, as it’s helps protect us and other road users - sadly human error plays a large part for the way vehicles are driven and that comes down to the individual at the wheel”, says Scott. #MakingDrivingSafer

Let us tell you a little bit about Scottie.

Scott Clark is one of VINZ’s most experienced inspectors, his role at the Mount Wellington Testing Station – is to ensure vehicles are safe. Scott has well over 24 years’ experience in the industry.

Starting an apprenticeship in 1973 as a panel beater, Scott holds all the qualifications required across the automotive industry. In 1993, Scott began his career at VINZ – “and I am still here” says Scott.

“At VINZ, I’ve had many rolls over the past 26 years from a Senior Support Manager, to Training many of the VINZ staff on Warrant of Fitness (WoF), Certificate of Fitness (CoF), and Entry Certification processes, to the Mount Wellington Testing Station Manager, as well as joining the Technical Team at national Support Office for a couple of years – in this role, I trained to be a MITO assessor and to help roll-out the new training processes for the NZTA which were adopted for all  vehicle inspections” says Scott.

The title Scott now holds is Technical Compliance Specialist, working alongside Warren Kendall the Regional Manager for Auckland.

Scott mentions, “What has motivated me over the years in my various roles, is being able to share my knowledge and to help staff understand the requirements and processes they need to do their job as an inspector,  in this ever changing environment”.

“The reason I became an inspector is by accident rather than planned.  I was made redundant and was doing home handyman work, my neighbour asked me if I would be interested in becoming a vehicle inspector. He was setting up a company that was to be involved in checking vehicles coming in from overseas which are now known as JAP imports.  I was the first inspector employed by VINZ, known back then as Vehicle Identification New Zealand. The rest is history. I have seen many changes over the years but I think the biggest change was when the vehicles were made to go through the strip out process for inspection,  prior to that we performed what they called Initial safety inspection which was very similar to a WoF check”, says Scott.

“Ensuring vehicles are fit for New Zealand roads is important to me, as it’s helps protect us and other road users – sadly human error plays a large part for the way vehicles are driven and that comes down to the individual at the wheel”, says Scott.

VINZ works closely with the government along with the NZTA  to enforce changes for vehicles being imported in to New Zealand, having to meet more stringent safety features for example Electronic Stability Control, ABS, Frontal Impact compliant vehicles and for healthier environment the exhaust emissions process.

Scott imported a Honda CB 1300 road bike “which I gifted myself for my 50th birthday. My wife and I have been around the South Island twice now – it was a great experience”, says Scott.