TORONTO, April 22 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government and the Ontario
Trucking Association (OTA) have teamed up to help save lives with a new awareness campaign aimed at making drivers more aware of the dangers of driving in a trucker's blind spots, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar announced today.
"More than one-third of fatal collisions with trucks are linked to motorists unknowingly driving in truckers' blind spots," said Takhar. "That's the very reason why truckers and drivers need to look out for each other's
safety -- our government believes that this starts with education."
Motorists will soon see large decals on the back of trucks and trailers reading "Avoid My Blind Spots," reminding motorists exactly where a truck's blind spots are.
"Creating a greater awareness on the part of motorists with regard to a truck's blind spots will help make Ontario's roads safer," said OTA President David Bradley. "There is a need to enhance public understanding of how to safely share the road with larger vehicles and this campaign is designed to do just that."
The OTA's estimated $140,000 investment in the awareness campaign will be supported by a $20,000 grant from the Ontario government. The awareness campaign includes:
- distributing "blind spots" decals to OTA members;
- a billboard;
- newspaper supplements;
- radio public service announcements; and,
- an educational video for motorists.
"The Ontario government, in partnership with the trucking community, is committed to promoting safety on our roads," said Takhar. "Safer roads help create strong communities that offer all Ontarians a higher quality of life."
Backgrounder
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April 22, 2004
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TRUCK SAFETY INITIATIVES
Ontario is a leader in truck safety standards and enforcement with some of the toughest safety laws in North America. The province has almost 8.3 million licensed drivers and 75,000 commercial carriers. With Ontario's growing economy, truck traffic has increased. Despite this increase, there has been a long-term reduction in fatal collisions involving large trucks.
Ontario's Commitment to Improve Truck Safety
- Every year ministry enforcement officers conduct approximately 125,000 commercial vehicle and driver inspections, over 250,000 commercial vehicle weight inspections, and approximately 850 facility audits on carriers.
- About 2,400 carriers annually receive a Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration (CVOR) compliance intervention such as a warning letter, interview, audit or suspension due to poor road safety performance.
- Effectiveness studies indicate that more than 80 per cent of carriers improve their safety performance after receiving a ministry compliance intervention.
Ontario's Success Record
- Between 1990 and 2002, the large truck population grew by 37 per cent while the number of fatalities in large truck collisions decreased by 13 per cent.
- Since 1998, over 1,110 commercial vehicles have been impounded by MTO enforcement officers.
- Ontario has experienced a 65 per cent decrease in reported wheel separations since 1997.
- During RoadCheck 2003, Ontario experienced its highest compliance rate ever: 79.9 per cent of the trucks subjected to a full mechanical inspection were found to be in compliance.
Looking Ahead
The Ontario government is working with its federal partners through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators to:
- improve provisions on current commercial driver hours of service;
- enhance requirements for daily commercial vehicle inspections;
- develop national standards for carrier safety ratings; and
- implement a modernized North American Cargo Securement regulation.
The Ontario government, in partnership with the trucking community, is committed to promoting safety on our roads. Safer roads help create strong communities that offer all Ontarians a higher quality of life.
