Over 70% of Ontarians
Support OTA Call for Provincial Government to Introduce Truck
Speed Limiter Law
(Toronto: February 21 2006) – A new poll by
released today shows that 71% of the Ontario public endorse an
Ontario Trucking Association proposal to mandate
the activation of speed limiters
on all trucks that operate into, out of and
within Ontario at a maximum speed of no more than 105 kilometers per hour.
The poll, conducted by IntelliPulse, also found that 79% of the Ontario
public believes mandatory speed limiters would improve highway safety.
IntelliPulse surveyed 1001 Ontarians between
January 31 to February 2, 2006. A sample of this size yields results that are
accurate within + - 3.2%, 19 out of 20 times.
OTA President David Bradley said that the
poll confirms that a broad base of support for the measure from trucking
companies, safety and environmental groups and the general
public clearly exists. According to Bradley, “while the
majority of trucking companies and truck drivers are dedicated
professionals who take their responsibility to share the road in a safe manner
seriously, there is still a small segment of the industry for which
voluntary compliance goes unheeded. This poll confirms our belief that the
Ontario public wants the Provincial Government to support OTA’s call to
activate speed limiters.”
Says Bradley ,
“the provincial government has
been studying the safety and environmental
advantages of speed limiters for a couple of months
now and we hope that this confirmation of public support for the idea will
help the Minister and the Premier make up their mind to act
now."
Since the OTA announced this initiative in November it
has gained the support of numerous MPPs from all sides of the Legislature,
Pollution Probe, CAA Ontario, Canada Safety Council, Traffic Injury
Research Foundation, SMARTRISK, RoadWatch, Markel Insurance Company of Canada,
Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada, and the Transportation Health &
Safety Association of Ontario, The Lung Association, and the Ontario
Safety League.
To view letters of support for OTA’s speed
limiter proposal, visit:
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The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is a
business association representing motor carriers operating into, out of and
within Ontario. The trucking industry is one of Ontario’s largest
employers. Trucks haul 90% of all consumer products and foodstuffs produced and
consumed in the province and 80% of Ontario’s trade with the United
States. Founded in 1926, the association’s membership comprises trucking
companies of all sizes, shipping all types of commodities, from all regions of
North America. OTA is a member of the Canadian Trucking Alliance.
Media Contact: Rebecka Torn, Manager of
Communications, (416) 249-7401 x 224
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2008, Ontario Trucking Association
555 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario
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Tel: (416) 249-7401 | Fax: (416) 245-6152
Email:
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