An online petition has been launched by NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice to support a bylaw aiming to equip trucks with side guards that would reduce impacts in case of collisions with cyclists and pedestrians.
“Recent fatal accidents in the Montreal region show that it’s high time we act to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists,” Boulerice stated in the petition on ActionSprout.
The MP for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie riding stated the NDP has lobbied for the safety measure for years. In 2013, NDP’s Olivia Chow questioned Ottawa’s reluctance to make side guards mandatory.
A year later, the Conservatives rejected the party’s attempt to amend the Motor Vehicle Act to ban the manufacture or importation of trucks that are not equipped with side guards.
“This time, we hope will be able to count on the support of other parties to improve security on our roads and save lives,” Boulerice said.
In Montreal, St-Laurent borough began fitting their truck fleets with side guards in 2012. The city of Westmount soon followed suit on their snow-removal trucks.
This summer, the city of Halifax councillors approved a regulation to fit its trucks with safety rails.
In 2012, upon completion of a review on the deaths of 129 cyclists since 2006, one of the recommendations of Ontario’s chief coroner was to install side guards on trucks.
Transport Canada rejected the recommendation, saying after testing it wasn’t clear if side guards reduced deaths and serious injury.
