TORONTO — The Ontario government is in the process of introducing mandatory speed limiters for trucks in the province, which if passed will create some changes for the industry.

By now, everyone is probably familiar with long-term changes to the environment and highway safety. Although widely debated by groups not in favor of speed limiters, proponents of the technology presented speed limiter legislation – with a set speed limit of 105 km/h – as a way to improve the environment and improve highway safety.

Regardless of who’s statistics you are in favor of, speed limiter legislation will have immediate affects on a number of operators in Ontario. Todaystrucking.com put a few questions to the Ministry of Transportation regarding implementation and enforcement, and found out some interesting information.

The legislation would apply to all trucks traveling in Ontario, including out-of-province and American trucks. If the vehicle weighs 11,794 kg or more, it will be required to have an activated speed limiter.

The only exception to the legislation will be old trucks – pre-1995 old. According to the MOT, about 95 percent of trucks already have the technology built into their engines, so Ontario will only require speed limiters on trucks manufactured after 1995 that have electronic engines with a speed limiter that can be activated through engine software. While, trucks manufactured prior to 1995, that do not have electronic engine controls, will not be required to retrofit their vehicles.

Enforcement will require additional training on devices capable of detecting speed limiter settings and tampering, but the MOT insists it will be provided to their officers. The technology will be utilized at strategic roadside locations. As well, the legislation as introduced last week allows the police to charge a vehicle operator for not having an activated speed limiter, if the vehicle is given a speeding ticket over a prescribed speed.

If the bill passes the target date for mandatory speed limiters is 2009. The bill also recommends a six-month educational period before enforcement begins.

Quebec still waiting

At one point Quebec looked like it would be the first province to get out of the gate with speed limiter legislation. But after tabling a motion earlier this year, the government held back, saying it didn’t want to put itself on an island and preferred to wait until Ontario passed the rule first.

Even with the Ontario government pushing forward, it looks like Quebec may hold out until more jurisdictions sign on.

“The announcement in Ontario is a step in the right direction. Are we going to go with Ontario only if they go further and enforce speed limiter? We don’t know. If Ontario and the Atlantic provinces are ready to go, are we gonna go? We don’t know either. We are looking for a Canadian-wide action with a majority of provinces committing and we evaluate the situation as things progress,” Terry McKinnon, spokesperson for Quebec’s Transportation Ministry told us.

McKinnon also noted that on April 8, Transportation Ministers and deputy Ministers from all Canadian jurisdictions will meet in Gatineau, Que. and speed limiter legislation is on the agenda.

“It’s a very important meeting where the status of the project will be discussed, as well as the position of the provinces on the speed limiter,” adds McKinnon.