Fatal trucking accidents prompt calls for increased training in B.C.
Credit to Author: Nick Eagland| Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:55:14 +0000
Families of Canadians who have died in collisions with semi-trucks are demanding the B.C. government catch up with other provinces that have improved trucker training.
Ginny Hunter lost her 18-year-old step-son, Logan, in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018. Pattie Fair lost her husband, Steve Babij, when an inexperienced semi-truck driver lost control and collided with Babij’s semi-truck near Revelstoke in 2017.
On Thursday, the two met with Attorney-General David Eby, who is responsible for the Insurance Corp. of B.C., to make the case for increased training and oversight for the trucking industry. They have another meeting Friday with Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.
With their new advocacy group Safer Roads Canada, which includes Humboldt families and others demanding change, Hunter and Fair are pushing for B.C. to adopt mandatory entry-level training legislation for commercial truck drivers, similar to what has been implemented in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
“As a result of my husband’s fatality, I delved into the commercial licensing system within Canada and was absolutely mortified and shocked to learn (about) the deficiencies,” Fair said.
“I’m using our life circumstances to help save lives by making safer roadways,” Hunter said. “If we can have any good come of this tragic situation, this is what we’re endeavouring to do — to try to make it safer for your family, my family, everyone.”
Hunter said they don’t want to penalize trucking firms, but feel it is vital that they work with the industry to ensure their drivers are protected, too.
While Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have recently implemented rigorous mandatory driver training for Class-1 commercial driving licences, B.C.’s entry-level rules haven’t changed since 2004. The province currently only requires a mandatory minimum of 16 hours of air brake training and testing, as well as driver record screening.
Alberta requires a minimum of 113 education hours (not including air brake training), including 40.5 hours in-class, 15.5 hours in a stationary vehicle, and 57 hours of practical behind-the-wheel training. Ontario requires at least 103.5 hours of instruction for a Class-1 licence. Saskatchewan and Manitoba both set a minimum of 121.5 hours this year.
Both the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Insurance Corp. of B.C. say they are working to bring an entry-level training program for Class-1 drivers to B.C.
“Through industry consultations, government has received input from stakeholders on what an entry-level training program for Class-1 drivers could look like for B.C.,” the ministry said in an emailed statement. “It’s important the development of provincial standards is done in lockstep with the federal government’s plans.”
The ministry said it is also providing input into new federal entry-level training standards which will be introduced next year.
ICBC said in April that it was “examining a number of different training options to improve commercial vehicle driver safety, including the recently introduced (mandatory entry-level training) programs in Ontario and Alberta, as well as the U.S.”
But Fair and Hunter said they have been frustrated by B.C.’s slow movement on the training.
“We’ve paid the ultimate price,” Fair said. “We’ve received that knock on our door. So yes, it’s frustrating. But at the end of the day, it has to change, so we have to stay optimistic.”
Meanwhile, Safer Roads Canada is pushing for changes at the federal level, too.
Earlier this year, Fair submitted an 8,000-signature petition to the House of Commons seeking four recommendations to improve national road safety, including regulating Class-1, commercial licensing as a nation-wide, skilled trade of professional drivers, and modifying the National Occupational Classification Code so truckers can qualify for funding to support their training.
She also wants the government to develop and implement a common mandatory entry-level training curriculum and a graduated licensing system for Class-1 licence candidates, and require licensing bodies to collect and store information on trainers and training records for commercial drivers.
— with files from Rob Shaw