NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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ORILLIA - As the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) gears up for 'Operation Corridor,' they are reporting that 40 per cent of transport truck collisions in 2018 involved a commercial driver who either made an improper lane change or was following a vehicle too closely.
The OPP responded to 7,674 transport truck collisions last year, with 63 lives lost and 1,142 of the crashes resulting in injuries. Nearly 75 per cent of the people killed in the collisions were passengers in other vehicles. Close to 80 per cent of last year's transport truck-related collisions were multi-vehicle crashes, making this a significant road safety issue.
"Road safety is dependent on commercial drivers who recognize that these large, heavy-load trucks need to be driven with the utmost safety in mind and are committed to flawless driving habits and meticulous vehicle maintenance practices. Reducing the number of transport truck collisions also requires that other motorists share the road safely with them."
-- Thomas Carrique, Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police
"Collisions involving transport trucks and heavy passenger vehicles often result in injury and death. Big trucks cannot stop quickly so we need to be aware and leave room for them on the road. The OPP enforce strict laws to ensure Ontario roads remain the safest in North America. We each have a responsibility to drive with care and vigilance and it is imperative that all commercial vehicle drivers be trained to be among the safest motorists on the road."
-- Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General
QUICK FACTS
Improper lane changes, inattentive driving and following too closely were factors in almost half of all OPP-investigated transport truck crashes over the past five years (2014-2018).
'Operation Corridor' is an annual 24-hour enforcement and education campaign conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation.
The initiative targets commercial vehicle drivers with the goal of reducing deaths, injuries and collisions that involve commercial motor vehicles.
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