It’s time to improve highway safety
Re: Residents close to bus crash site say too many collisions happen near their homes, June 5.
There has been yet another call for the widening of Highway 401 after the recent accident involving a tour bus. An additional lane on the 401 would not have prevented this accident, as it has been described. According to the driver, a mechanical problem prevented him from properly operating the bus.
It would cost billions to add another lane from Kingston to the Quebec border. That additional lane would not prevent people from doing what they continue to do on the 401, which makes the highway so dangerous: excessive speeding, careless driving and distracted driving.
A recent TV interview with a transport driver was very telling. He described that stretch of highway as not much different from a racetrack.
A much more effective solution that wouldn’t cost billions would be to hire dozens of OPP officers and purchase the necessary vehicles, a small plane and a few helicopters dedicated to traffic control and safety on the 401. The OPP does have those items now, but needs to bolster existing equipment and staff.
Many drivers know there are long stretches on the 401 that aren’t policed so they blatantly speed, weave through traffic at high speed and answer their cellphones. If the provincial government committed the aforementioned resources to the 401, it would become known that if you speed or drive carelessly on that stretch of highway, you stand a greater chance of being apprehended.
Luciano DiNardo, Ottawa
Highway lessons from England
Some of England’s highway policies could be of benefit in dealing with 400-series highways here. Transport trucks (lorries) have to stay in the slow lane unless overtaking a stationary vehicle. Speed cameras are on all four-lane highways (motorways) as well as most other secondary roads; they are effective, don’t require manpower to administer, and generate huge revenue through fines which can be channelled into infrastructures.
Another thought would be to introduce a Highway Patrol division to specifically look for distracted and speeding drivers. This would enable the OPP to perform more functional duties. I don’t think adding extra lanes will solve the problem, and these would add a huge cost to taxpayers.
There is a much greater volume of cars and trucks on British motorways than in Ontario and major accidents are less frequent. Nick Brooks, Kemptville
The 401 has become a safety hazard
I am concerned Highway 401 has become too dangerous for families to travel with peace of mind. In the past few years, the increased frequency of serious accidents has become alarming. In 2017, between January and August there were approximately 17 serious accidents on the stretch of highway between Toronto and the Quebec border. It now seems as if there is at least one serious accident every week.
In many cases these accidents involve tractor trailers, and frequently result in fatalities. That section of the highway can be closed from 12 to 20 hours.
I think the Ontario government should be showing leadership by providing incentives to the trucking industry to get some of these big rigs transferred to rail transport between Toronto/ Montreal and Toronto/ Windsor. The government should also enhance regulations for road transport of dangerous commodities on Highway 401 to ban road transport of explosive or toxic commodities.
I’m surprised the issue of safety hazards on Highway 401 did not become an election issue in Ontario. It does make one wonder how many deadly accidents must occur before it gets the attention of our political leaders.
Grant Suffel, Merrickville
I’m surprised the issue of safety hazards on Highway 401 did not become an election issue in Ontario. It does make one wonder how many deadly accidents must occur before it gets the attention of our political leaders. Grant Suffel, Merrickville