Don’t believe the wild hype
Dear Editor,
Two recent trucking issues got attention that involved hype and politics. The media, and more so the Canadian Automobile Association and biased railroad lobby, namely Canadians for Responsible and Safe Highways (CRASH), are well known to distort truck safety.
Recently Teamsters Canada, which I happen to be a member by the way, and now Bill Wellman and his Oshawa, Ont.-based National Trucking Association (NTA) have been needlessly fueling public fears on trucker fatigue (See Truck News March 2001, p. 8). Many truckers are fed up with the hype on this issue, misleading the public with blatant propaganda.
Several months ago, I sent government traffic statistics to the NTA showing tractor trailers are involved in six per cent of all Ontario traffic fatalities, and interestingly cars cause 75 per cent of these same car/truck crashes.
Yet, the NTA and others ignore these facts. Fatigue can affect both motorists and truckers alike: it’s common practice for many motorists to work and drive a total of 15 to 20 hours daily.
Motorists face no log books or restrictions. Motorist fatigue has caused more fatalities, yet receives little attention by any government or truck critics.
Mississauga, Ont.
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