In 2022, Ontario saw the highest number of transport-truck related crashes in more than a decade leading to 71 fatalities that police say were preventable.
That’s led to Ontario Provincial Police launching Operation Safe Driver, a targeted enforcement blitz running from July 9 to July 15. Its aim is to reduce risky behaviours exhibited by both commercial and non-commercial drivers.
According to an OPP media release, officers responded to 9,110 collisions involving transport trucks last year, representing 12 per cent of overall collisions.
Police cited improper lane changes, following too closely and speed as the top causes of collisions, and not just those involving commercial drivers.
Of the 2,858 charges laid by OPP in the transport-involved crashes, 1,098 were issued to passenger vehicle drivers, while 1,760 were laid against commercial drivers.
Unsafe driving leads not only to death, police say, as traffic snarls often create lengthy delays and road closures, thereby disrupting the flow of goods which damages the economy.
OPP say they are counting on all drivers to do their part to help reduce the number of collisions and fatalities by driving safely and complying with the law.
