Truck safety inspection blitz underway

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION

************************* McGuinty government helping make roads safer

Large trucks and buses in Ontario will get a thorough inspection to make sure they are safe during Roadcheck 2010, an annual, international safety inspection blitz from June 8 to 10.

Ontario's truck and bus inspectors conduct more vehicle inspections than any other province in Canada and most jurisdictions in the United States.

Trucks and buses are randomly inspected for:

- Mechanical fitness

- Properly-secured loads

- Correct driver qualifications

- Complete daily inspection of reports and logs.

Unsafe vehicles are immediately removed from the road and operators face some of the toughest penalties in North America, including fines of up to $20,000 for many offenses, and up to $50,000 for wheel separation offences.

Vehicles with serious brake, steering, wheel, tire and suspension defects may also be impounded for up to 60 days.

Quick facts This is the 22nd year Ontario has participated in the annual safety event along with jurisdictions from across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Throughout the year, Ontario conducts over 100,000 commercial driver and vehicle inspections, six province-wide safety blitzes and 250 regional safety blitzes.

The number of large trucks registered in Ontario rose by about 59 percent between 1990 and 2006, while fatal collisions involving these vehicles dropped by about 33 percent.

Reported wheel separations decreased from 215 in 1997 to 68 in 2009.

Learn more Roadcheck 2010.

Read Ontario's official Truck Handbook for rules and safe practices for driving trucks and trailers.

Access the latest products, services and information for commercial drivers in Ontario at the Truck and Bus Information Centre.

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