Don’t expect to be cut any slack by Ministry of Transportation enforcement officers when it comes to vehicle safety and following road protocol.

That message was politely, but emphatically delivered by Hank Dubee of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Simcoe and Dufferin County office at a breakfast meeting of the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning.

Tragic events, such as the one last week on Hwy. 400 that killed a driver of a rig carrying  stone and construction material may have been prevented if the load was properly secured, he believes.

“One little error, or safety issue, can result in a death,” Dubee told the Innisfil Journal before his address. “The police called it speed related. But you need to look at all the issues. Was the load secure, were the ball joints worn or the brake linings worn? It’s often overlooked in the investigation.”

North of the GTA, “we’re a little more relaxed and maybe some people are driving too relaxed up here,” Dubee says. “Our volume of traffic is too high for a three-lane Hwy. 400. We need to alleviate some of the volume. The 407 has helped and high occupancy lanes (HOVs) have helped, too. There are so many more commercial vehicles on the roads today. There are still a lot of wheels coming off trucks. The media just isn’t reporting it anymore unless there’s a fatality.”

With 20 years under his belt, the toughest part of his job remains being on call 24/7 to go out to fatal accidents on roads in his catchment area.

Maintaining road safety and obeying provincial regulations when it applies to both small and larger commercial vehicles is the top priority for MTO staff.

“Operators of smaller vehicles don’t always have the information they need, or are aware of all the rules and regulations they must now follow,” Dubee says. “The bottom line is – it’s for our safety and our families’ safety.

He outlined the importance of the CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operators’ Registration) program for the audience and the accompanying yellow sticker that’s issued to owners.

“If you’re stopped and don’t have one on your vehicle – it’s a $110 fine,” Dubee said. “If you get too many points against your license, you can have your plates removed. No truck, no going to work, no money.”

The CVOR initiative also allows owners to track what indiscretions individual drivers may be incurring on the road.

“You can monitor what your drivers are doing. Are they getting speeding tickets? You can then talk to your drivers,” Dubee says.

He emphasized the need for drivers to do daily “circle checks” of their vehicles to ensure lighting, brake and exhaust systems, among others, are functioning as they should.

Not overloading trailers with excess weight, or unsecured loads, are factors to always consider as well.
A comprehensive annual inspection is money in the bank, too.

“Don’t think of the annual inspection as a pain-in-the-ass,” Dubee said. “It gives you peace of mind and is likely cheaper in the long run instead of waiting to have to expensive repairs.”
And, “if you are stopped by an enforcement officer and a major defect is discovered, the fines are big.”

Not securing a load properly can bring a minimum $390 fine.

“Chain everything down,” Dubee advises. “Don’t use the back of your pickup truck as a garbage can. An empty coffee cup flying off the back of your pickup could possibly cause a fatal accident. I've seen more than I’ve wanted to see.”

Finally, drivers of all stripes must remember, “a highway includes everything, even the shoulder of the road.”