Safety should be for all drivers and vehicles

Dear Auditor General: Regarding the Auditor’s Report on Truck Safety. As a trucker who writes many letters to media and government, and possesses many traffic facts and statistics, I find your unsafe truck report sensational, one-sided, unfair and poorly researched.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s annual Road Safety Report clearly states:

• tractor-trailers are involved in 2% of all crashes;

• tractor-trailers are involved in 6% of all traffic fatalities;

• most (72%) of car/large truck crashes are caused by cars;

• over 85% of all traffic crashes are due to driver error.

Unsafe large trucks cause about 1% of all traffic fatalities – what about the remaining 1%? Truckers also possess the safest driving records. Large trucks also face full annual inspections and repairs. Cars face nil, unless being sold.

Unsafe cars and motorist fatigue cause far more fatalities than similarly in large trucks. Many truckers work different areas and different shifts – generally unaware whether truck inspection stations are open or closed. Over recent years truck vehicle safety has improved. The vast majority of traffic congestion, violations, crashes and fatalities are caused by cars, plus cars cause most large truck crashes.

Most motorists ignore their vehicle safety, failing to get a mechanic’s full safety check and repairs. Large trucks stand out in traffic, are observed more often, making them subject to unfair or exaggerated criticism. A minority of truckers are unsafe or discourteous. Many motorists are oblivious to their speeding, poor driving and how to properly share roads with trucks. Unmentioned truckers face overly stringent medicals and retesting or bans while motorists face nil, which can endanger the public.

I can tolerate photo radar for BOTH cars and trucks. As a trucker and motorist, safety is for all drivers and vehicles.

Don Bell

Mandate both quantity and quality of biodiesel

Regarding your story “BCTA accuses province of ignoring biodiesel concerns” on trucknews.com,jurisdictions which mandate biodiesel quantity, without mandating biodiesel quality are irresponsible. Biodiesel fuel quality is very important. Biodiesel that meets the new ASTM standards is manufactured and distributed by a BQ9000 certified supplier should be safe to use under some conditions. Unless the quality is regulated, how will anyone know they have received poor quality fuel until they have expensive repair bills?

Currently, there is a resolution on the Canadian Chambers of Commerce policy books that asks the Canadian Government to do just that.

Please pressure your local chambers of commerce to receive an answer on where the government is regarding the Biodiesel Quality resolution that was unanimously voted on at the 2007 AGM of the Canadian Chambers of Commerce.

Bill Waugh

C-TPAT will help reduce clearance times at the border

Regarding your blog “Seeing Straight at the Border” on trucknews.com,I agree with the contents of this article, for the most part. However, the one CBP program that will enhance traffic flow into the USA is C-TPAT. As C-TPAT participants increase in numbers the overall clearance times will be reduced. There is a paradox here in that in these difficult economic times Canadian exporters are reluctant to spend the money on the C-TPAT program.

However, successful application and participation in the C-TPAT program has only positive benefits for the Canadian exporter and will eventually improve border crossing times.

David Connell, C. I. T. T. President D L Connell Enterprises

Mandate speed limiters to anyone caught speeding

We are an independent trucking company based out of British Columbia. My husband and I both run Ontario highways with the intended speed limit posted according to your laws. To insist that I must alter my truck to make your roads safer, because your OPP cannot stop speeding on your highways from its people, is unfair considering I do not speed.

I would like to remind everyone that what is happening in this province in regards to your “speed issues” is not the fault of the truckers, solely. It is a direct result in the speeding of people on your roadways, and lack of police presence on those roadways.

I travel these highways and have often been amazed at the way the people from this province drive in it. The complete disregard for the speed limit or basic rules of the road is so plain too see for anyone who is looking, that I am disgusted in the insinuation that it is the truckers who are somehow solely responsible.

To have a politician make a law that singles out truck drivers as the sole problem on your roads is ridiculous. Has he driven the highways out here? Or is he a town guy, who only stays on the smaller community roads? Your OPP are the ones who need to be out there enforcing the laws that are already in place for your safety. That is the real issue at hand.

Limiters on trucks is not the answer. You want to put limiters on vehicles to make people slow down, then do it to anyone caught speeding. Hand it out with the tickets that they are required to drive with a limiter. Add it to the mandate for the “new” drivers licensing programs that if caught in the first two years, they lose their license. You want to make a real difference and make safety your “top priority,” then do it properly.

If limiters is what you want, then put it in every vehicle, not just trucks.

Melanie Green