A transport truck is flipped over in the westbound lanes of Hwy, 401 near Dorchester on June 8, 2014. (Photo by Bob Becken)A transport truck is flipped over in the westbound lanes of Hwy, 401 near Dorchester on June 8, 2014. (Photo by Bob Becken)
London

What the Truck?

When a Monday starts with warnings about slippery driving conditions, soon followed by a 401 closure at the 402, you know it's going to live up to expectations of its stereotypical worst self.

OPP, London police and emergency services were kept hopping this morning from collision to collision. Most of them were minor, little fender-benders and vehicles sliding into ditches because they were going too fast for the conditions. And among near-constant tweets from OPP, one stood out:

OPP news tweet

Do you know how many recent collisions were caused by, or involved, transports? The 401 closure Monday morning resulted from two separate incidents involving lone transport trucks. On Sunday night, a portion of the eastbound 401 in Elgin County was closed after two transports connected. On Dec. 10, 2014 a transport left the 401 at Lakeshore and rolled into the ditch. Nov. 7, a transport rolled on the eastbound 402. On October 28, a transport hit a cyclist. We don't need to get these trucks off the roads. They're important and they move crucial goods. But we need better drivers.

You could argue that all drivers need to get better and I'd agree! When we were kids we were told that driving was a privilege, not a right. The longer you drive the more you realize how much b.s. that is. However, holding drivers to a tough standard would lose a lot of money for the province so that's not going to happen. But when you drive for a living, when it's your occupation, your profession, you ought not slide off a major highway and cause its closure. Accidents happen, but they're happening too often. Just today, Torstar reported that its attempt to obtain pass rates for new tractor-trailer drivers was denied by the province. It's secret info unless the media outlet wants to pay $2,000 to get it. Four years ago it was revealed that would-be truckers weren't even taken out on major highways during their driving tests. The Ministry says that aspect of testing has changed. Has it? Give me $2,000 and I'll let you know.

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