OPP is reporting fatal transport truck crashes are up 40 per cent. This week OPP will be focusing on the safety of commercial motor vehicles during a provincewide campaign.
From January 1 to June 30 this year, the OPP responded to 32 fatal crashes that involved a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), compared to 23 such collisions at this time last year.
Heading into the second half of 2021, 2,956 CMV-involved crashes have occurred, up nine per cent over 2020 and accounting for close to 13 per cent of the total number of collisions on OPP-patrolled roads this year.
In the OPP’s East Region, there has been 276 collisions involving CMV’s during the first half of 2021. Five of which have been fatal.
Improper lane changes, following too closely, speeding and driver inattention on the part of truck operators and drivers of other involved vehicles are leading factors in this year’s large truck-related collisions.
During the one-week Operation Safe Driver campaign, OPP officers will be highly visible conducting enforcement and education aimed a CMV operators and other drivers, exercising zero tolerance with any motorists observed engaging in risky driving in and around these large vehicles. CMV inspections will also be conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation.
