MTO/OPP intensify enforcement of the rules of the road

OPP News Release

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The Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Provincial Police are set to intensify their team approach to enforcement on Northeastern Ontario highways with the signing today of an operational Memorandum of Understanding for the MTO/OPP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Initiative 2008.

Assistant Deputy Minister Bohodar Rubashewsky and Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, Division Commander, OPP Highway Safety Division, both MOU signatories, traveled to North Bay to join local OPP and MTO executives for the launch of this northern initiative.

Today, there are over 1.2 million commercial vehicles operating on our provincial highways. This represents an increase of approximately 50% since 1990. Since the implementation of this initiative, more than 17,000 commercial vehicles have been stopped across Northeastern Ontario, and over 1,300 commercial vehicles have been taken off the road for safety related defects.

This road safety partnership and team approach to enforcement began in 1997 and it has expanded to cover all corners of Northeastern Ontario. For the next twelve months – up until January 31, 2009 - MTO OPP joint enforcement teams will focus on unsafe commercial vehicles, aggressive and fatigued drivers, the transportation of dangerous goods - all with a renewed emphasis on seatbelt compliance.

Representatives from Connecting Community Partners in Injury Prevention were also on hand at today’s launch to support the MTO OPP enforcement activities. They announced the implementation of their latest public education initiative which is designed to reinforce the importance of wearing a seatbelt. The information card entitled ‘There is no Difference… Buckle up” features Captain Mike French, a Canadian Snowbird pilot.

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