In an attempt to make its roads safer, Ontario, Canada, has introduced a policy to impound any truck found to have a serious critical defect such as faulty brakes or suspension problems.
Each defective vehicle will be impounded for 15 days. If the same vehicle is caught again within a two-year period with a critical defect, the impoundment period extends to 30 days, and goes to 60 days for the third offense. All trucks and buses found to be critically defective will be impounded, regardless of their home base.
By the end of this month, the province’s 46 truck inspection stations will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Not only do these trucks pose a safety hazard, but they can potentially shut down an economic corridor if they break down. We want to make Ontario roads safer,” said Tony Clement, transportation minister. “We’re not after the safe operators — only those who don’t look after their vehicle or fleet. The best way to avoid impoundment is for owners and operators of commercial vehicles to take some responsibility for their upkeep.”
For more information, visit the Ministry of Transportation’s website at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english.