Teamwork between the OPP and Ministry of Transportation led to a few of the 600 commercial vehicles check during a blitz this week being taken out of service.
A joint initiative involved searching commercial vehicles for mechanical defects, improper paperwork, impaired drivers and anything else which could potentially impact the safety of everyone on Ontario’s roads and highways.
From Monday, August 25 to Thursday, August 28, MTO and OPP officers conducted 596 visual inspections, 24 detailed CVSA inspections, nine tow truck inspections and 69 mandatory alcohol screening tests on random drivers, with no violations.
They also took four commercial vehicles out of service and issued nine tickets for various offences, including a lack of pre-trip inspections, no or improper insurance, major defects and hours of service.
Officers also caught nine commercial vehicles using a secondary road to bypass the MTO inspection facility on the 401. In one of these incidents, a total of nine charges were laid against a company and the driver. That vehicle was taken out of service.
Acting Superintendent Stephan Neufeld, OPP East Region Headquarters, stated everyone shares responsibility when it comes to highway safety, but commercial drivers carry an even greater burden-given that the vehicles they operate can weigh over 40,000 kilograms, or 40 tons.
(BROCK ORMOND)
