PAGE A14, WHMY MFRE PIRESS The Auto Secton, MARCH 28,1990 or Longer truck Iengths spark debate~.. Wrye says longer wheelbase trucks are -more stab.le Ontario Transportation Minis- ter William Wrye recently announced he would endorse new truck length standards of 25 metres for tractor trailers and 53 feet for trailers. The announcement was made at the Ontario Trucking Associa- tions annual convention. Wrye called on the trucking industiy to strive for a new public image that builds on recont industry and goverrnment safety initiatives. The- National Safety Code standards, including pre-trip in- spection, hours of work regula- tions, air brake skill require- mente for drivers, and safety audits by ministy inspectors at truck yards and garage s, provide for improved highway safety in Ontario. Wrye said: "In light of new safety initiatives and the tact that Ontario is becoming a regu- latory 'isla2nd'ini the compotitive North Americian marketplace, I arn propared ta introduce new truck length standards.» The western provinces, Quebec and many U.S. jurisdictions have already moved to longer truck Iengths. Present length limits in Ontario are 23 motres and 48 font respectively. The added length allows longer wheelbase tractors which are more stable. It also provides for iinproved sleeping' facilities ta help driversacomply with hours of work provisions of the National SafetyCde. Wrye said: 'Greater unit capa- City also means fewor trucks on the road, lower omission levols and greator fuel1 economy." The transportation minister invited the 1,000 truckers at the convention to becomo active ini the promotion of transprtation safety. Wrye urged trucicers ta make safety and courtesy the number one priority of their dri- vers, the way it was in the days they were called "knights of t he CAA-Ontario says new plan is redundant DsBy CAA-Ontario Desite the recommondations Of te government-appointed Uffen Commisiens on Truck Saety in 1983, and despite the violent reaction from motorias two years ago, the government of Ontario bas bowed to the press- ure of the -trucking industry and are now going te allow increase in the lengt of trucks on Ontarioroads. '"he transportation minister's announcement that hie will shlow an increase in truck lengths from 23 metres (75.5 ft) te 25 metres (82 ft) ignores the strong oppoi tion expressod by moteristalsnd other road users,» said AU. Oakie, spokesman for CAA Ontario. The Uffon Ontario Commision on Truck Safety six yearsamo opposed an increase inii recl Iengths for Ontario. Advisi* the Comnmissionor, Dr. Robert Uffen, at that timo, woro oight repre- sentatives from the ministry, truck training modica pofs sion, Ontarlioviciîal Po0ie, trucking associations, Toamaters Union and AI Oakio, spokosman for CAA Ontario. Seven of these advisors were in total agreement that truck lengths shoul not be increased in Ontar-io, with only the truck- ing association ropresentatives expressing a contrary view. u ne concession as a result of the Uffen Commission on Traffic Safety recommendations was an increase in overaîl truck lengths for Ontario from 21 metres te, 23' metres (the present length) te encourage greater use of cal> b _idengine tractors as opposed te the less stable cab- over-engine tractors, with the provision that the trailer portion of the combination would not be permitted to, increase. This increaso on safety grounds- was fully supported by the automobile clubs. So, the new proposal te increase the tracter trailer length for safety pupss-as well as the trailer ie=ngt, sredundant. A major study of vehicle Wei ~ts and dimensions carried outty tho Road and Transpor- tation Association of Canada was partly sponsored by the trucking industry. Arnong those studies and many rocommendations, was one to incroaso truck lengths nationally from 23 metres ta 25 metres. The truclcing industry lobbiod strongly and in those provinces where they had the most influconco, such as in Wes- tern Canada, they wore succoss- fuI in getting the 25-metro truck eWhMaritimes have- not.adop- ted this recommendation and only recently did the Province of Quebec acquiesce to, the press- ure. Although there were several safety recommondations, it see- med that the main purpose of the study was to, gain approval for longer trucks across tlus country. Based on the RTAC studios, we recomnded te the On"ai Mimister of Transportation that, 1. The use of A-train .qui ment should be banned. TIs equipment is used te connect a scnd trailer te a semi-trailer and is least stable of other alter- natives. 2. There should be no increase in truckc aile hoad liiùita or gross weight limite. 3. Itere should b. no tolerance on vehicle overloads. 4. The use of lift ailes should be banned. Because they are lifted at intersections and inter- changes, other aies become overloaded. They aIse can become very overloaded and cause road damnage when impro- perly used. 5. Exiisting overall maximum vehicle lengts8nut not be in- creased and, MU 6. crashability stan- dards(front rear and side energy-absorbing buinbers) in truck te protect car occupants in the event of collisions- between cars and trucks. The poices have failed te act on t ese recommendations. In 1987 and early 1988, motor- ists who wrote the Poice roe- ted violently te -former ministor Ed Fulton-s tentative agreement te increase truck lengths. Fulton received such an avalanche of mail that ho backed off-and with pr !ical cabinet agreement avsdthe Canadian Council of Transport Ministers that Ontario would not increase its truck lengths te, 25 metres. Oakie asked «What has hap- pened since te change the government's position? The only conclusion we can ceme te is that the Ontario truck industry has been very persuasive in their arguments. The industry's econo- mic arguments were dealt with very extensively in a special r wtÇuk Trains in Ontario- -90erque aSafety,' by OAA Ontario in 1987. Fortunately Wrye bas held off the implementation of the pro- posed increase until the next session of the legiolaue. We are confidont that in that time there will be a second vio- lent reaction from motorise and, hopefully, with this reaction ho and the cabinet will change tlir position. The minister has a.cknowl- edged that he has received a great deal of pressure from bis colleagues in other provinces. We point out ta him that Ontario has ta contend with more trucks than any other provinces. There are one million trucks and truck tractors registered in Ontario, equating te 46.3 truckcs per kilo- metre ofprovincial bighway. The average for Canada, is 13.6' trucks per kilometre q the total of provincial highwa f Teeare only 40,000 trucks and truck tractors registered in Quebec, equating te, only 7.7 trucks per kilometre of provincial highway. Shippers' coalition says anti-truck lobby is vu not playing fai.r"v Recent attacks on the highway safety record of the trucking industry have caused various groups of trucking comparies, shippers and others te, form a coaition ta, publicly defend the industry. As a result of the Ontario Minister of Transportation's introduction of Bull'96 in December, an organized hobby group bas beguni writing letters te, members of the legishation attacking the safety record of the trucking industry in Ontario. Brian McFadden, co-chairman of the Ontario ShippersW Coalition,' bas said 'We are propared te engage in *a fair andbhonest debate ever the monits cf Bull 96. However, these letters simply reflect an emotional anti-truc bias that dos not deal with the issues contained in the bull and cannot be left unchahlenged." Bill 96 wiil alow longer trucks, 25 metres, and longer trailers, 53 foot. The new lengtbs are based on a nation-wide etudy conducted by IRTAC (Roads and Transporation Association of Canada) wbich received national acceptance in a Memorandum of Underadig siqned by a provinces. That study imposed standards that would make the added lengthe eafer than even the current lengths that are now alhowed," said McFadden. 'Wbat concerne us the moet,' ho said, "is that the anti-truck hobby je not playing fair. The leadersbip cf that hobby sbould lcnow ouresafety record and je being intelectually diehoneet by ignoring it." For exaniple, only 2 per cent cf aIl Ontario vebicle accidents involve tractere, smi-trailors and combination vehicles. The truck driver was deemed not at fault in 75 per cent cf these accidents. O, put the facto even more draxatically, the accident rate for the total population in Ontario is 2.7 accidents per million ' vebicle kilometers travelled.» The rate for large trucks is lees than 1 accident (.097) per, million vehicle kilometres travelled., Jack Cargill, a member cf the Ontario Shippere'Coaltion, representingthe Metropolitan Toô-ronto _Baard cf Trado lias suggeeted "Mhe coalition wihl now bave te get our story -eut te the media if we are te make sure tbat the citizens cf Ontarie are not mislead. It is important te us that there is. cooperation and understancling between ail users cf our highways - motor cars and commercial vehicles - so that we are ail reassured our highwaye are safe." Truckc transportation is a crucial element of Ontario's economy. Trucking directly employa 230,000 "Ontario residents and moves a full 70 per cent cf Ontario'e goode. Truck transportation is the on]y means of wbich many- Ontarie communities can got transportation services. Because' Canada is a country cf long distances it's doubly important that we find more efficient ways - witbcut ccmpromi1sing safety - of movng goosin order te romain internationally competitive. "In the opinion cf the Coalition and the ' Metropolitan Toronto Board cf Trade, Bill 96 meets al cf these -objectives," sai"d CargII*>r***ý