CMV-linked fatal crashes up 40% in Ontario
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reporting a significant increase in commercial motor vehicle (CMV)-related fatal collisions – a clear sign that many drivers are disregarding the additional risks these types of collisions carry.
From January 1 to June 30, 2021, the OPP responded to 32 fatal crashes that involved a CMV, compared to 23 such collisions at this time last year, according to a news release.
Heading into the second half of 2021, 2,956 CMV-involved crashes have occurred, up 9% over 2020 and accounting for close to 13% of the total number of collisions on OPP-patrolled roads this year.
Improper lane changes, following too closely, speeding and driver inattention on the part of CMV operators and drivers of other involved vehicles are leading factors in this year’s large truck-related collisions.
The OPP says 78% of CMV collisions occurred on provincial highways.
A CMV can weigh in excess of 60,000 kg and, travelling at speeds of 80 to 105 km/h, generates significant momentum and energy, increasing the risk of fatality when involved in a crash with other vehicles.
During the one-week Operation Safe Driver campaign from July 11 to 17, OPP officers will be highly visible conducting enforcement and education aimed a CMV operators and other drivers, exercising zero tolerance with any motorists observed engaging in risky driving in and around these large vehicles. CMV inspections will also be conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation.
Operation Safe Driver is led by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), with enforcement and education initiatives conducted throughout North America. The goal of the campaign is to enhance CMV and non-commercial vehicle driver safety.
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Have always believed that before any license is granted a driver should have to spend time in a transport truck and on a motorcycle to get a full perspective of the responsibility of “sharing the road”.
Truck drivers are being forced to drive when tired to make appointment times. Untill we get better solution for truck drivers. Truck drivers health and accidents will be a problem.
It’s time to get blunt and announce the real issue.
Yep, don’t take a genious to see what’s going on here. Improper driving abilities, improper driver licensing, lack of training, “special” schools that hand out licenses.
Don’t worry…it’s going to get worse yet.
Most of us long time professionals have left the industry just because it is so sickening now.
Out on the street when people ask I do ‘t even admit I was in the trucking industry. It’s too embarrassing.
As always with statistics, it is important to put things in perspective.
In how many of these incidents involving CMVs was the driver of the CMV at fault?
Without that information it is not possible to develop effective corrective action
Too many inexperienced and improperly trained drivers somehow cutting corners on their training.
Had a new driver hired and while he did ok on the road test, and backing in the yard, he wasn’t able to back into a dock at a customer’s. Someone had to do it for him.
He abandoned the tractor and had his mom pick him up.
It would be interesting to see stats on who caused the accident. Was it the CMV driver or the other drivers? These stats are critical to an article like this one.
“CMV – related fatal collisions” – does not say – commercial driver at fault. Only that the truck was involved.
For example – every single one of the fatal incidents could have been the car driver’s fault, and due to physics, their mistake cost them or others (or both) their lives.
We know from other statistics that trucks also have the safest drivers on the road. Are they many that are not – of course – we’re talking overall numbers here.
Car driver training needs to have a serious check-up. Blitzes on all drivers – especially cars and how they behave around trucks as well as other cars.
Let’s finally get serious with cameras at highway exits etc. Seat belts didn’t get to be common practice until after the fines went into effect. Hey, let’s copy Finland’s example, fines are attached to income level.
Maybe they should start giving fines to all the cmv traveling above 105 kph there are lots of them out therr
Not hard to see why if you open your eyes. We got a whole bunch of new dump and live bottom haulers up here. They have even been hitting each the head on ON THE JOB SITE!
But the people that filed complaints were fired because you are not allowed to talk about “them” any more.
Highways and work sites aren’t safe any more, but tow truck business is booming.
I agree with the comments about fault however, I have spent the last 2 decades traveling on the 401 in the GTA and the biggest issue I see is the number of CMV’s tailgating. It doesn’t take much for something to go wrong and if you don’t have the time or distance to react…..it’s all over quickly!! I agree with the comments about immigrant culture of driving and training they receive. We need more accredited training facilities, and all enforcement agencies really need to crack down on the tailgaters.
Well they let the car drivers run wild cutting trucks off. See it more than one in my life. Language of drivers big problem then they let anyone drive a truck. Students come from other countries go to college just to get a trucking job in Canada heard that from more than one student coming from India. I spend a lot of time with immigrants that have came to Canada and now in the trucking industry I tried to teach them the safety part of their trucks and the importance of their license.
So get it some don’t.
Giving drivers automatic trucks was the first mistake in the industry the second was allowing anyone to get a truck license it is a skill of hand eye and foot coordination not everyone has.
As traffic get greater and more cars aggressive driving get worse everyone wants to be first nobody has patience even in the truck stop they will mow you down.
If understand technology you will understand that a torque converter in an automatic speeds up before it shifts that up the rpm in turn puts torque to tires that actually speeds the truck up before slowing down.