More drivers are buckling up: FMCSA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - More truck drivers are wearing their seat belt, according to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A national survey conducted by the group found that seat belt usage in the U.S. was up to a record level of 86% in 2016, from just 65% in 2007. FMCSA deputy administrator Cathy F. Gautreaux says while the results of the survey are good news, work would continue on the issue until 100% of drivers buckled up on the road.

OTA releases five-point safety action plan

TORONTO, ON - The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) released a five-point action plan for improving truck safety this morning. The plan aims to work with law enforcement officials to assure the public that safety on the roads is the top priority of fleets owners, drivers, and other members of the industry, after a recent string of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles on Ontario highways had Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Vince Hawkes calling trucks "missiles."

Mack, Lytx exploring video for refuse trucks

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - Mack Trucks has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Lytx as it explores the potential of video feeds for refuse vehicles.

Big data generating big returns

ORLANDO, FL - Data ranging from maintenance costs to video images is increasingly helping fleets to drive down the cost of everything from on-road repairs to collisions. And those who dig a little deeper can realize some of the biggest savings of all.

Volvo’s vision includes zero collisions

ORLAND, FL - Volvo invented the three-point safety belt in 1959, and with an era of active safety systems upon us, the company has unveiled another vision - zero traffic accidents.

BC asking drivers to Be Truck Aware

VICTORIA, BC - With one-in-five traffic fatalities in BC involving large commercial vehicles, road safety insiders are calling for drivers to be more careful around trucks. The Be Truck Aware campaign was launched in time for Operation Safe Driver week, when officers across North America will be ticketing drivers for failing to share the road and follow safe driving practices.

Inspectors should look at flatbed safety: OTA

TORONTO, ON - The Ontario Ministry of Labor's falls blitz is coming, and the Ontario Trucking Alliance (OTA) is urging them to pay special attention to flatbed truck safety. The falls blitz, which covers ladder safety, slips, trips, and falls, in the mining, industrial, construction, and health care industries, will be running from Oct. 2 to Nov. 30.

Prepare for eclipse distraction and congestion Monday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For two minutes on Monday the world will go dark in 14 states, causing a huge distraction for drivers. Although there are about two solar eclipses a year visible from somewhere on Earth, August 21 marks the first time a total solar eclipse will be able to be viewed from the mainland United States in 38 years.

Headlights Again: Now digital

A few months ago I wrote a couple of times about headlights, complaining that the standard lamps offered in most vehicles -- from cars to heavy trucks -- are insufficient. Meaning, it's too easy to over-drive your lights at what are pretty ordinary speeds nowadays. The light just isn't thrown far enough down the road, reducing the ability of a driver to see far enough ahead to avoid an obstruction and maybe a catastrophic accident.

The Movement of Anything | Is the Trucking Industry Ready?

Recent technical advances in the transportation sector, such as anti-lock braking systems, lane divergence sensors, and especially the evolution in dash camera technology, have focused not only on enhancing the overall driving experience but also on making our roads safer than ever before.

Institute makes case for side guards

ARLINGTON, VA - New crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) have demonstrated that well-built sideguards could keep passenger vehicles from sliding under the side of a semi-trailer. It was the first time that such guards were tested.

Alberta assistant deputy minister outlines provincial plans

BANFF, AB - Shaun Hammond, Alberta Transportation's assistant deputy minister - safety policy and engineering, offered government views on a broad range of issues during the Alberta Motor Transport Association's annual meeting in Banff on Friday.

When good isn’t good enough

Should "professional" drivers be held to a higher standard when it comes to care and control of their vehicles, and indeed, the actions they take or don't take to avoid a collision? An Ontario appeals court judge thinks they should be and has ruled accordingly. I think the decision opens some dangerous doors for Ontario truck drivers.

Clear the Way: Bypass programs perfect carrot to offset enforcement stick

I was introduced to the concept of a hospital triage by watching episodes of MASH in the 1970s and early '80s. Centered around the happenings of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, the show's TV doctors were regularly seen moving through the latest batch of wounded soldiers, deciding who could wait and who needed immediate attention. (They also looked for new ways to torment Frank Burns, but I digress.)

IN PRINT — Better Safe than Sorry: Safety procedures are there to protect, not annoy

Tire irons and jacks are not worth a human life, yet a tire service technician in Whitehorse, Yukon died while retrieving his tools from under a truck he had been working on. The incident happened back in 2011, but it has stuck with me for years because the death was needless and could have easily been prevented - and also because I can't count how many times I have backed a truck out of a shop without first checking to make sure nobody was beneath it.