Dear Editor:

(Re: No limit?, Truck News, July)
I was interested to read your article on the recent dismissal in an Ontario court of a speed limiter ticket. I agree with Joanne Ritchie’s comment of “this useless law that does nothing but divert resources away from policies and enforcement that could contribute to road safety.”

We tend to forget the reason for the limiter law in the first place – two horrendous accidents on our 400-series highways (one involving more than 80 vehicles) which sparked outrage – both the result of driving too fast and too close in poor visibility conditions.

You can’t legislate against poor judgment and driving skills. Joanne Ritchie’s comment about diverting enforcement to other areas is right on the money! For instance, a pet peeve of mine here in Ontario is traffic enforcement’s inability to control the proper use of highway lanes.

There isn’t any traffic enforcement officer anywhere I have found who doesn’t agree with me (including the Ontario OPP traffic safety group) and I defy anyone to find differently.

I believe one of the main causes of accidents on our highways is the improper use of traffic lanes, in particular at highway on- or off-ramps, a major cause of interaction accidents between tractors and cars.

This poor use of traffic lanes is the single most frustrating cause of concern to enforcement officers and drivers alike. We should start enforcing the proper use of highway traffic lanes for both truck and car operators, who blatantly continue to misuse our lane protocol.

In Europe and certain parts of the US this lane use protocol is enforced and rigidly taught in driver training schools. As for limiters, they are stop gap at best.

Alan Masters
MCG Consulting