AA Insurance supports UFBA Road Crash Rescue Challenge with vehicle donations

AA Insurance supports UFBA Road Crash Rescue Challenge with vehicle donations | Insurance Business New Zealand

Motor & Fleet

Event aims to improve firefighters’ decision-making and teamwork abilities

Motor & Fleet

By
Roxanne Libatique

AA Insurance, in partnership with Turners, has donated 24 salvaged vehicles to the United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA) for use in the annual Road Crash Rescue Challenge.

The event took place in Feilding from June 13 to 15.

The challenge is designed to provide volunteer firefighters throughout New Zealand with essential training in rescue and response skills for motor vehicle accidents.

The significance of the Road Crash Rescue Challenge has grown, with 70% of road incidents in New Zealand being attended by volunteer firefighters.

During the event, firefighters practice rescue and medical response techniques in realistic scenarios, improving their decision-making and teamwork abilities.

“This event would not be possible without support from organisations like AA Insurance and Turners who provide many of the vehicles our members use to practice rescue techniques in the challenge. These are skills that our volunteers take back to their brigades and communities, which helps them respond quickly and effectively to motor crashes in their local area,” said UFBA CEO Bill Butzbach.

AA Insurance and Turners support event

AA Insurance head of motor claims Beau Paparoa reaffirmed the company’s dedication to supporting the UFBA.

“We’re proud to support UFBA’s 2024 Road Crash Rescue Challenge and the important work New Zealand volunteer firefighters do to help communities prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from emergencies. Every day, we see the impact that motor crashes have on New Zealanders, and we’re pleased to support initiatives that help our emergency frontline respond when these devastating crashes happen,” he said.

Shane Prince, general manager of key accounts at Turners, discussed the long-standing relationship with AA Insurance.

“Turners have had a long partnership with AA Insurance, and we are delighted that we are able to assist with arranging damaged vehicles for this event. Turners sell over 30,000 salvaged cars a year, to Automotive Recyclers and Dismantlers, who dismantle the vehicles and recycle parts from these vehicles. It’s great to work with AA Insurance to be able to donate a portion of these cars to support our local firefighters,” he said.

The UFBA has been bringing fire brigades together across New Zealand for more than 145 years. Currently, it represents over 690 brigades and nearly 14,000 members from various sectors, including urban, rural, volunteer, and industrial brigades.