The Ontario Provincial Police is reporting crashes and fatal collisions involving trucks and other commercial vehicles are up from the same period last year.
The OPP reported 4,816 such collisions so far this year compared to 4,666 until mid-August of 2018. Police also said 46 of the collisions so far in 2019 resulted in fatalities compared to 39 fatal crashes in the first seven and half months of last year.
Data from the OPP revealed that 3,857 of the total number of the 2019 truck incidents were multi-vehicle collisions, in contrast to 959 incidents that involved a single vehicle.
The OPP's analysis also showed that commercial vehicle-related crashes accounted for 11 per cent of the 42,200 collisions on OPP-patrolled roads so far this year and have been linked to 30 per cent of the fatal crashes.
The OPP said not all truck drivers were at-fault in the collisions reported.
"Improper lane changes, following too closely and driving too fast for the conditions remain leading factors in commercial motor vehicle collisions on OPP-patrolled roads," said OPP Chief Superintendent Alison Jevons. "If every commercial driver and motorist makes a commitment to be an exemplary driver who shares the road safely at all times, there is no question that we would see a dramatic decrease in these types of collisions."
Provincial police start their "Operation Safe Trucking" campaign on Sunday.
Officers will conduct visible and covert enforcement to ensure truck drivers are following the rules of the road, inspections, hours of service compliance and records, and cargo securement all week long until Saturday.
"Everyone has a role to play to keep our roads and highways safe. While commercial drivers must comply with traffic laws, drive at a safe speed and distance, they also have the added responsibility of complying with all inspection requirements, adhering to recording their hours of service and making sure loads are secure," added Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. "By following these guidelines and safety precautions, operators help play an important role in reducing the collisions on our roadways and limiting distractions to keep our roads safe."