Alberta to beef up police presence on Highway 63

EDMONTON, Alta. -- Drivers on the busy Highway 63 truck corridor will see more enforcement and more visual reminders to drive safely as the government moves to address recommendations stemming from a report to improve safety on the road.

The Alberta government has started implementing key safety recommendations regarding increased enforcement and enhanced driver education contained in “Towards a Safer 63,” the report by Mike Allen, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA.

Allen, who is the Special Advisor on Highway 63, and Transportation Minister Ric McIver released the report June 29.

“Our commitment to Albertans’ safety is unwavering. As part of our ongoing actions to make this highway safer for everyone, I asked the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General to increase the number of fulltime integrated enforcement officers on Highway 63 beginning immediately,” said Alberta Premier Alison Redford. “We are committed to ensuring our highways are safe for our families and the men and women who travel our roads transporting goods daily.”

Two additional officers will be patrolling the highway by the August long weekend, with another two added by the end of August. Another 12 officers will be added over the coming months, with all 16 expected to be in place by early 2013.

Recently, the province has held two enforcement blitzes, which saw close to 1,000 tickets being issued, and installed additional signage for upcoming passing lanes.

Alberta Transportation is also installing six digital signs to provide instant feedback on drivers’ speed. The location of the digital signs will be moved approximately every week to increase the attentiveness of motorists and allow for inspection and maintenance, with three signs located on the northbound lanes and three on the southbound lanes. Increased billboard and radio campaigns have either started or are planned between now and September that target safe speeds, motorcycle safety, and driver attitudes.

“In addition to the new actions announced today, the Minister of Transportation and his colleagues will come up with realistic recommendations on the preferred and most achievable financial options to accelerate Highway 63 twinning and other infrastructure improvements,” said Premier Redford.

Government also announced on July 17 the tendering of three Highway 63 construction projects ahead of schedule. The projects include new passing/climbing lanes and extensions to existing ones, 27 kilometres of new grading near Wandering River and 55 kilometres of tree clearing between House River and Mariana Lake.

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Police seeking information on deadly wheel separation

TORONTO, Ont. -- Police are asking for information after a tire believed to be from a tractor-trailer became detached and killed a motorist.

A woman died early this morning on the QEW after her vehicle was struck by the errant wheel. No truck remained at the scene, but according to local media, police claim the driver may not have noticed the wheel separation. Police are unsure if it was a spare tire or a tire that was mounted to the vehicle.

The truck was headed southbound (towards Niagara) early this morning. Police were notified at about 6:45 a.m., according to CP24. Anyone with info is asked to call police at 905-681-2511.

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It was a professional thief, not driver, that led police on truck chase: CTA

TORONTO, Ont. -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says a much-publicized truck chase in Ontario is an indication that cargo crime is a growing problem.

The organization says while media reports focused on the 'trucker' who led the police chase along the QEW in a tractor pulling an empty flatbed trailer, in reality the trailer carried a load of wafer board when originally pilfered from a Niagara area truck stop.

The CTA also takes issue with the driver being referred to as a 'trucker' when it appears he was a professional thief - not driver. The driver was out on bail after being charged in December 2010 for possessing a load of stolen Sony Playstations valued at $1 million, the CTA indicated.

"Yesterday's incident highlights the need to take cargo crime more seriously and it demonstrates how truck drivers work together to protect themselves and to fight cargo crime," CTA CEO David Bradley said in a statement yesterday.

The CTA has also discovered an observant truck driver played a role in capturing the thief. The driver was a colleague of the owner/operator who owned the stolen truck and became suspicious when he saw it travelling along the 401 without a load. He called his friend's cell phone and found out his truck had been stolen. He then called police to report the location of the rig.

CTA's Bradley said it's alarming the truck was stolen from a well-lit, secure yard, where the owner had been safely parking it for 20 years. Further, the trailer was equipped with an immobilizing device.

"And, yet, the thief was still able to take the unit," said Bradley. "Thankfully, the event ended peacefully. The police should be commended for keeping the travelling public safe and bringing the stolen truck to a safe stop. But it could have been much worse. What happened shows us that the industry, government and the enforcement agencies must do a better job of working together to develop countermeasures to combat this serious area of criminality."

Bradley said truckers are at risk of personal harm during truck and cargo thefts while the cost to the industry is enormous.

"Often, there is little to no risk but potentially huge profits to be made (by thieves). If perpetrators keep getting out on bail or serve only very short sentences, what's stopping them from doing this again? Much tougher sentencing is needed," Bradley said.

The CTA, meanwhile, has developed a Cargo Crime Incident Report in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Truck fleets are encouraged to report cargo theft incidences so the industry can better understand the true costs and strengthen its lobbying efforts for harsher sentences.

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