Following our November 28th press conference, Olivia Chow spoke during Question Period. You can read her question and the Minister’s response here: Oliva Chow in Question Period: How many more deaths before sideguards are mandated? Bravo, Olivia!
Read our most recent press release, following our press conference at Spiritwind Internal Arts: Loved Ones of Lost Cyclists and Pedestrians Come Together to Urge Government to Mandate Side Guards for Heavy Trucks
www.SafeTrucks.ca is a grassroots initiative
…born out of unnecessary tragedy, and sustained by the determination to make Canada’s roadways safe for everyone who uses them. We are a group of families and friends of those who have died under the wheels of heavy trucks, because simple, sensible, and well-researched regulations have not been implemented by our federal government.
Our first order of business is the support of bill c-344, The Cyclists-Pedestrian Protection Act, tabled by Olivia Chow in the wake of thedeath of Jenna Morrison, killed on 11/7/11 in a cycling accident in Toronto. Her death, and the grief of the hundreds who knew her and depended upon her, was utterly avoidable.
The governments of many other countries have proven that flush-mounted truck sideguards prevent the majority of undercarriage deaths. we’ve compiled this research here, along with impact statements from the dozens of other surviving families, and news updates on our efforts.
Beyond our demand for sideguards, we will work to mandate convex mirroring for all heavy vehicles, and mandatory cyclist-interaction road training for everyone who holds a trucking license. Beyond even these goals, we will advocate for greater resources for cycling and pedestrian populations across the country, because walking and cycling is good for the environment, physical health, and sense of community.
No longer should cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists travel in fear of each other.
This is not a divisive issue. nobody can argue against making trucks safer. especially the transport industry itself, which clearly wishes to protect its drivers from the sorrow of spilled blood.
www.SafeTrucks.ca is for those we have lost and those we wish to protect: on foot, on a bike, or behind the wheel. it makes good sense, for everybody.
Visit our Take Action! page to find out what you can do.