HALIFAX, N. S. – Nova Scotia’s commercial truck and passenger carrier safety programs have been targeted in an auditor general report that revealed “weaknesses which diminish their ability to improve highway safety.”

Auditor General Jacques Lapointe issued his report recently, noting the province’s safety inspection and enforcement program does not meet the department’s standard of performance. He said weigh scales are not open long enough, are easily avoided and are understaffed and that enforcement programs do not adequately monitor high-risk offenders.

“Due to the potential seriousness of accidents involving trucks and buses, it is important that the province’s safety programs related to these vehicles be as effective as possible,” said Lapointe.

He said the province has not done enough to act on suggestions filed in previous A. G. reports.Well, the mainstream media got wind of the report and ran headlines such as Big trucks, big risk on roads, which prompted responses from the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association.

“The headline had nothing to do with the report,” APTA executive director Peter Nelson told Truck News of one local news report. “We haven’t had any issues with enforcement in Nova Scotia.”

The association was preparing a response to what it felt was unfair media coverage, but then swine flu came along and blew the story from the front pages.

To view the full AG report, visit www.oag-ns.ca.