ST. JOHN’S — Federal Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon told acting St. John’s Mayor Dennis O’Keefe that Ottawa is in the process of studying the possibility of mandatory sideguards on all Canadian trucks.

While O’Keefe said that this is a “positive step in the move towards sideguards,” Cannon specifically noted that studies show there are significant differences between Canada and Europe, where sideguards or underride guards are common.

According to the St. John’s Telegram, Cannon continued, “there is no evidence to suggest that sideguards would be effective if introduced as a mandatory standard on new Canadian commercial vehicles.”

Transport Canada is currently funding the first phase of a study being undertaken by the Transportation Association of Canada.

Several years ago, NDP Toronto MP Oliva Chow introduced a private member’s bill that would require large trucks to have sideguards to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under the rear wheels.

The proposal stalled in Parliament, but there are several lobbying efforts by safety and cyclist groups around the country to revive the issue.

— with files from the St. John’s Telegram