TORONTO, Ont. — Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Julian Fantino has thrown his support behind the Ontario Trucking Associations (OTAs) proposal that would require the use of speed limiters on all trucks operating in the province.

The proposal, since endorsed by the Canadian Trucking Alliance at the federal level, would mechanically limit the speed of all trucks in the province to 105 km/h. The OTA welcomed public comments by Fantino that supported the proposal.

OTA has been lobbying the government for almost two years now to have the province enact legislation requiring all trucks operating in Ontario to have their engine speed limiters set at no more than 105 km/h, so were obviously very happy that the Commissioner has publicly indicated their support for a hard cap on truck speeds, said OTA president David Bradley.

The OTA says about half the trucking companies operating in Ontario already voluntarily restrict the speeds of their trucks.

Even though truck drivers are the least likely of all drivers to be operating at excessive speed, there are good environmental, safety and economic reasons for making the activation of speed limiters mandatory, Bradley said. Fuel savings of as much as 50 million litres of scarce fossil fuels, a reduction of more than 150 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, less severe car-truck crashes, less tailgating and improper lane changes by trucks, and less stress on truck drivers to feel pressured to speed in order to make deliveries are all among the benefits of limiting truck speeds.

After a year and half of debate, discussion and study the time has come for the government to act, Bradley added. I cant understand why they are reluctant to bring in something this positive that has so much support. The safety and environmental benefits are just too significant for this government to continue to ignore this issue and I hope that Commissioner Fantinos comments will finally spur them to action.