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Proposed Measures Would Allow Police To Clear Highways Faster After
Collisions
TORONTO, Feb. 22 /CNW/ - The Ontario government plans to reduce
congestion and improve safety with proposed legislation that would allow
police to clear and reopen highways faster after collisions or spills,
Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar announced today.
"About 60 per cent of all delays on urban highways are the result of
collisions, spills or other debris," said Takhar. "The proposed Bill would
mean fewer delays and less frustration for all drivers travelling on Ontario
highways."
Last year, there were over 22,000 collisions throughout the GTA, some of
which caused significant traffic delays. Those delays amount to closing a
highway for the equivalent of a month and a half. The Transit and Road Safety
Bill would allow police to clear highways faster following a collision or
spill. It would clarify police powers to remove vehicles and debris from the
roadway while protecting police, the province and/or the municipality from
liability.
"Highway closures can cost up to $600,000 an hour," said Takhar.
"Businesses depend on just-in-time delivery. They simply cannot afford to wait
hours for highways to re-open after a collision."
If passed by the Ontario Legislature, the proposed Transit and Road
Safety Bill would also:
- Create new offences for flying vehicle parts, which can cause
serious injury or death to other road users; and
- Improve daily commercial vehicle inspection standards by requiring
drivers to check for over 70 itemized defects daily.
"This proposed legislation would make our roads safer by giving police
the authority to get highways cleaned up and re-opened faster," said OPP
Superintendent Peter Burns. "Faster highway clearance means fewer secondary
collisions."
The Ontario government believes the Transit and Road Safety Bill, if
passed, would further improve safety and help ease congestion. A safe,
efficient transportation system is key to building stronger communities.
Backgrounder
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February 22, 2005
GOVERNMENT MOVES TO EASE CONGESTION ON ONTARIO HIGHWAYS
The Ontario government has introduced the Transit and Road Safety Bill to
improve road safety and reduce congestion and transportation costs.
The government recognizes traffic delays and highway closures have an
impact on the province's economy. One minute of traffic delay for each trip
translates into $170 million in higher shipping costs each year. The Transit
and Road Safety Bill would allow police to clear highways faster following a
collision or spill. It would clarify police powers to remove vehicles and
debris from the roadway while protecting police, the province and/or the
municipality from liability. Currently, police wait for owners to arrange for
clean up. There have been cases where trucking companies, or their insurers,
have insisted on sending a crew from hundreds of kilometers away, causing
extended delays.
The Transit and Road Safety Bill would also:
- Allow Ontario to implement a new National Safety Code Standard to
improve truck safety in Ontario. The new standard would require more
thorough pre-trip inspections of commercial vehicles by the driver.
The checklist would increase from 23 to 70 items.
- Create new offences for flying vehicle parts with a new Highway
Traffic Act provision that deems a vehicle unsafe if a part becomes
detached. This would make all drivers, including personal vehicles,
commercial carriers and third parties (e.g., mechanics) responsible
for parts that detach from vehicles travelling on the highway. For
example, in the past year, an incident occurred where a metal part
weighing about two kilograms detached from a truck and went through
a car windshield.
If passed by the Ontario Legislature, the new law would mean:
- Less delay and frustration for all drivers
- Lower transportation costs
- Less risk of secondary collisions when incidents are cleared sooner
- Reduced numbers of detours on municipal roads not designed to carry
highway traffic
- Protection from lawsuits relating to clean-ups
- Improved truck safety.
Ontario's roads are the safest in North America. The Ontario Government
believes the Transit and Road Safety Bill, if passed, would further improve
safety, and help ease congestion. Safer roads help build strong communities.
Disponible en français
www.mto.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Danna O'Brien, Minister's Office, (416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, Ministry of Transportation, (416) 327-1158
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