Statistics Raise Concerns About Transport Truck Accidents In Ontario

During recent years, the data on truck-related collisions in Ontario has shown an increase in the number of such incidents, specifically those that have involved a transport truck. Understandably, such statistics have pushed those with responsible for on-road safety to search for way to explain the disquieting findings.

Research shows that 2 of the possible factors do not contribute to the increase in transport-related collisions. These are:

• The amount of sunlight on the road does not appear to alter the frequency with which such accidents occur.
• By the same token, the weather conditions do not seem to affect the frequency with which such accidents take place.

What are the common causes for such collisions?

• The driver has failed to pay attention to what is on the road.
• The driver has fallen into a state of fatigue. This situation contributed to 30% of the accidents.
• The driver had become distracted.
• The driver lacked the ability to react to an obvious hazard or a potential danger.
• The driver has chosen to disregard a traffic law.

Which of the traffic laws are most often disregarded by the drivers of transport trucks?

• Posted speed limits
• Taking the time to signal before moving into an adjoining lane.
• Assuming the right of way at a spot where the truck driver should yield to another motorist.
• Driving while intoxicated.
• Driving while under the effect of a powerful drug.

Steps taken by Ontario in an effort to address problem:

Ontario has placed a limit on the amount of time that any one truck driver can spend behind the steering wheel of that same driver’s transport vehicle. Drivers are now expected to keep a log of the miles traveled. That log can be in written or digital form.

The tendency for some drivers to consume alcohol or use a drug, before sitting at the steering wheel, may be deterred by some other new laws. Drivers with a BAC above 0.05% now face a fine of $250 for a first offense, $350 for a second offense and $450 for any further offenses. Any driver that refuses to be subjected to drug or alcohol testing can be fined $550.

An additional step to consider:

Injury Lawyer Cambridge are of the view that perhaps the guidelines used by those that hold the job of training the drivers of transport trucks should be altered. The new guidelines ought to offer a more detailed explanation on how to react to specific hazards, and even to potential dangers.

Maybe the drivers should get tested on their ability to comprehend and use the information in the guidelines. If testing has been used in the past, then it would seem that the test course needs to be a bit more challenging.