Truck driver René de Baat from Klaaswaal has won the Dutch National Championships Safest Driver. At the TT Circuit in Assen, the 39-year-old South Hollander was the strongest of 25 finalists on Saturday. Danny Henskens (Berghem) and Pieter Jacobs (Beuningen) took second and third place.
The win was special for De Baat, as his father Izaak had also qualified for the final battle in Assen. "I did not expect it. Safety is an important theme. I regard this award as a nice token of recognition”, commented De Baat, professional driver at Van der Mark Transport. After five trials, only three finalists were left. On the final course, agility was coupled with safety and speed. In that respect, De Baat stayed ahead of its competitors; he was the only one to complete the complete course within the allowed 15 minutes.
The NK was the highlight of the TVM Awards, the name of the safety program of TVM insurance. The main objective of the TVM Awards is to create more awareness for safe driving among all road users and thus to contribute to transport and road safety in the Netherlands. From the hands of Michel Verwoest, CEO of TVM insurance, De Baat received the TVM Award that belongs to the NK Safest Driver.
Safe Transport
Transport company Nijman/Zeetank from Spijkenisse was the winner of the TVM Award for Safe Transport. It is a jury prize that is awarded to a company that makes a positive contribution to transport safety on the basis of its social responsibility. The jury consists of the eight partners of the TVM Awards. Frits Bakker, branch manager of Nijman/Zeetank, received the TVM Award from jury chairman Charles Engelaar, marketing director of Volvo Trucks Netherlands.
Nijman/Zeetank received the Award because the company offers its employees 'a complete package of safety'. 'At Nijman/Zeetank, safety does not stop when the driver gets out of his cab or goes home. Private individuals are also investing in the safety of employees', according to the jury report.
Knight Remco Kompier
The TVM Award Ridder 2021 was presented to Remco Kompier from Nieuwegein. In March, the truck driver of transport company Van der Wal from Utrecht rescued a victim from a car that had fallen into the water in an accident on the A28.
The TVM Awards is an initiative of TVM insurance with the support of eight partners involved. The partners are: Volvo Trucks Netherlands, Continental Benelux, Van Eijck Groep, BP, Advance Groep, Veilig Verkeer Nederland, ANWB and STL.
Also read: Transport companies on their way to a sustainable transport sector
