News Release Archive
BUSINESS/CONSUMER SERVICES--N.S. TRUCK SAFETY RECORD IMPROVES
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Safety consciousness continues to rise in the Nova Scotia
trucking industry. Statistics from Roadcheck 1997, a
continent-wide yearly inspection blitz, show that the safety
record in this province has improved by two percentage points
over last year.
Figures released today by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport
Administrators (CCMTA) indicate 14 per cent of the 383 trucks
stopped in Nova Scotia were put out-of-service as a result of an
inspection conducted at the Amherst incoming scalehouse, down
from 16 per cent last year. One driver was placed out-of-service
for logbook or documentation problems.
The national average decreased to 28 per cent this year from 33
per cent in 1996.
The figures place Nova Scotia third in the country for heavy
commercial vehicle safety, after Prince Edward Island and the
Northwest Territories.
"My department is placing a strong emphasis on truck safety,"
said Sandy Jolly, minister of business and consumer services.
"Our national standing shows that while there is room for
improvement, our efforts and those of local trucking associations
are paying off. We will continue to work closely with the
trucking industry so that our record keeps improving."
In addition to the trucks inspected, 93 trucks were exempt from
the roadcheck because they displayed valid Commercial Vehicle
Safety Alliance (CVSA) decals, which means they had already
passed an inspection somewhere in North America within the past
90 days. Including these vehicles in the statistics reduces the
out-of-service percentage in Nova Scotia to 12 per cent.
Roadcheck 1997 was conducted June 3-5 and co-ordinated by CCMTA
member jurisdictions as part of International Highway
Transportation Safety Week, a concentrated effort in Canada, the
United States and Mexico to encourage safer driving practices by
both heavy-truck drivers and motorists.
As part of this year's national campaign, 7,366 vehicles and
drivers were inspected for mechanical and driver fitness. About
72 per cent of trucks and close to 99 per cent of drivers passed
the rigorous inspections conducted according to the procedures
developed by Canadian members of the Commercial Vehicle Safety
Alliance.
When vehicles bearing the CVSA decals are included in the
national total, the out-of-service rate drops to 22 per cent.
Brakes, steering, wheels, tires, frames and the manner in which
loads were secured were among the many vehicle features inspected
during this enforcement initiative.
"When it comes to vehicle safety on our highways, the more
rigorous the inspection the better," said Ms. Jolly. "Safe
vehicles are necessary for safe travelling -- and safe travelling
for all Nova Scotia motorists is our ultimate goal."
CCMTA and CVSA will perform a more detailed analysis of the
roadcheck results to develop further measures aimed at increasing
commercial vehicle safety. CCMTA member jurisdictions, working in
partnership with industry and safety organizations, hope to build
on the success of this year's roadcheck initiative so that Canada
will have the safest roads in the world by 2001.
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Contact: David MacNeil
Business and Consumer Services
902-424-2933
trp June 25, 1997 - 3:58 p.m.
