The OPP is gearing up for its Operation Safe Trucking Campaign in hopes of putting the brakes on the growing number of transport truck fatalities in Ontario - especially here in the Northeast.
The Northeast has seen fatal transport incidents go from one in the first six months of 2017 to nine in from January to early July 2018.
That is the highest regional increase in the province.
The OPP has responded to 33 transport truck-related collisions so far this year, marking a 38 percent increase when compared to this time last year.
A total of 41 people have died in the crashes.
Vince Hawkes, the OPP commissioner, says the OPP has never been more committed to its Commercial Motor Vehicle Collision Mitigation Strategy.
“We continue to work diligently with our road safety and trucking industry partners toward our goal of reducing the number of transport truck collisions on our roads,” said Hawkes in a release.
“Despite our efforts, it takes a firm commitment to safe driving on the part of all transport truck drivers and other motorists in order to see a significant reduction in these types of collisions.”
During Operation Safe Trucking, the OPP will be well-resourced to address speeding and other forms of aggressive driving, distracted/inattentive driving, driver impairment, hours of service and equipment violations, and lack of occupant restraint.
