Quebec legislators say Oui to speed limiter discussion
QUEBEC CITY — Support for mandating speed limiters on commercial trucks is getting infectious among Canadian politicians.
Recently, an all-party committee of the Quebec National Assembly agreed to take a legislative look at a speed limiter proposal included in a transportation report submitted by Commission des Transports et de L’environnement.
The commission recommends that mandatory speed limiters be set to 105 km/h on all trucks and buses that operate in the province. The Quebec Trucking Association actively participated in the deputations to the commission.
look at the speed limiter concept for their province
The Quebec proposal mirrors a similar plan that was passed second reading in the Ontario legislature earlier this month.
The idea was originally drafted in the offices of the Ontario Trucking Association, which says it wants to boost highway safety and equal the competitive playing field for many of its members that already voluntarily cap their speed at around 100 km/h.
All the other provincial trucking associations in Canada also endorsed the speed limiter campaign under the banner of the Canadian Trucking Alliance. It is expected that some of those associations will also submit speed limiter proposals to their respective provincial transport ministries.
The Owner-Operator’s Business Association of Canada, as well as the U.S. based Owner-Operator and Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) vocally oppose the plan.
However, OBAC Director Joanne Ritchie told TodaysTrucking.com that she welcomes an open debate in the political arena. “Getting it to the committee stage is not bad thing, really,” she said recently. “It’s high time there was some legitimate debate on the issue.”
Also in the Quebec Commission des Transports report — titled “Road safety in Quebec: the use of cell phones while driving, excessive speed, motorcyclists and winter conditions” — are several other recommendations — such as restricting cell phone use in moving vehicles; electronic speed detection on roads where police presence is difficult, and new standards for winter tires. The report contains a total 16 recommendations.
The OTA said in a press release that the report would likely be debated in the fall.
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