Commercial trucks have hit more than 35 overpasses and bridges since the end of 2021, according to a list compiled by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation
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The B.C. government is introducing stiff new measures to penalize commercial truck drivers who hit public infrastructure such as overpasses and bridges.
Changes to laws introduced Tuesday will allow the courts to impose fines of up to $100,000 and jail time of up to 18 months.
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Commercial trucks have hit 35 overpasses and bridges since the end of 2021, according to a list compiled by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.
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In announcing the tougher penalties, the B.C. government says “infrastructure” crashes pose a significant safety risk, having caused millions of dollars in provincial highway repairs, as well as lengthy highway closures and supply chain disruptions that impact all British Columbians.
“With these new penalties, we are taking the strongest action possible to keep our roads safe and to keep people, goods and services moving,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming.
“This also sends a message to commercial truck drivers that they are responsible for the safe transportation of goods and services on our roads, and a lax attitude toward safety will not be tolerated.”
The transportation ministry noted that the laws surrounding these type of crashes have not changed since the 1970s.
The proposed maximum penalty for commercial transport violations is far above other Canadian provinces and territories, and falls in line with the maximum penalties applied to rail and dangerous-goods safety.
The changes are supported by the B.C. Trucking Association.
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“Imposing stricter penalties for carriers supports road safety and helps protect infrastructure, and ultimately enhances safety for everyone on our roads,” said Dave Earle, president of the trucking association.
The province had earlier increased the fines that can be issued at the roadside to $500 from $100 for trucks with overheight loads that hit overpasses and bridges.
A recent Postmedia examination of the issues bearing on overpass and bridge strikes showed that nearly 160 Motor Vehicle Act charges were laid in the past decade against companies that are on the overpass strike list: Chohan Freight Forwarders, Gulzar Transport, Whistler 99 Courier and Freightways and T S D Holdings.
Of the charges, 130 were levied against Chohan companies from 2010 to 2022, including Chohan Freight Forwarders, Chohan Carriers and Eternity Transport.
Chohan Freight Forwarders is the only company on the list to have more than one strike of an overpass, with six since the province began compiling the list at the end of 2021.
In February, the province cancelled Chohan’s licence to operate in the province.
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More to come …
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