OPP report 71 fatalities due to transport truck involved collisions in 2022
In response to an upward trend in transport-truck involved collisions, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), are ramping up enforcement and education around commercial motor vehicle safety.
According to a release from the OPP, in 2022, police responded to 9,110 collisions that involved a transport truck, marking the highest number of transport truck-related crashes on OPP-patrolled roads in more than 10 years. The incidents, which accounted for 12 per cent of overall collisions last year, resulted in 71 fatalities, the majority of which were preventable.
“Improper lane changes, following too closely, and speed were the top primary causes in the collisions — and not just on the part of the commercial drivers,” police said. “Of the 2,858 OPP-laid charges in transport truck-involved collisions last year, 1,098 of them were issued to non-commercial (passenger vehicle) drivers, with the balance of the charges (1,760) issued to commercial drivers.”
The OPP said that the data serves as a reminder to all drivers of the importance of sharing the road safely when traveling in and around large commercial vehicles. These collisions not only result in significant fatalities, injuries and property damage every year, they often cause lengthy traffic delays and disruptions in the movement of goods that support our economy.
During Operation Safe Driver, running July 9 to 15, 2023, the OPP, MTO and other road safety partners will conduct targeted enforcement aimed at all risky behaviours on the part of commercial and non-commercial drivers. The OPP said that they are counting on everyone to do their part to help reduce the number of collisions and fatalities by driving safely and complying with all traffic laws every day, throughout the year.
“Commercial drivers are reminded that 24/7 compliance with commercial vehicle safety requirements such as inspections, hours of service, secure cargo, and the movement of dangerous goods is critical to keeping our roads safe,” the OPP said.