TORONTO, Ont. — The OTA and the MTO yesterday kicked off a road safety campaign that warns motorists to avoid driving in a large truck’s blind spots.

As many as thirty-five per cent of truck-car fatalities are tied to motorists inadvertently driving in a truck’s blind spots.

A sticker, which fits on the back of tractor-trailers, was unveiled by Ontario Trucking Association President David Bradley and Ontario Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar at the Truckworld show in Toronto.

Following the launch ceremony, the minister rode in a tractor-trailer to see for himself how cars and trucks can better share the road.

"Creating a greater awareness on the part of motorists with regard to a truck’s blind spots will help make Ontario’s roads safer,” said OTA president, David Bradley. "There is a need to enhance public understanding of how to safely share the road with larger vehicles and this campaign is designed to do just that."

The truck was driven by Maryann Geertsema, a member of OTA’s team of truck driver ambassadors, the OTA Road Knights. The Road Knights are truck drivers who raise awareness about how to safely share the road with large trucks.

The decal is a 9 " x 17" sticker which fits on the back door of a truck’s trailer. The sticker is available free of charge to Ontario truck fleets. Contact OTA for details at 416-249-7401.

Posters have also been printed depicting the blind spot areas, and will be distributed to MTO Driver’s Licensing offices, car driving schools and similar locations to further boost awareness.

The launch ceremony also featured a demonstration of safe road sharing techniques by several members of OTA’s Road Knights Team. This group of truck drivers, 11 men and 1 woman, speak to groups, driving schools and attend public events to boost awareness of how to share the road with a truck. The Road Knights who participated in yesterday’s launch were:

 Maryann Geertsema, Kriska Transportation
 Jody Orr, Challenger Motor Freight
 Randy Burry, L.E. Walker Transport