Truckers hauling explosive or flammable loads have killed and badly injured people after getting drunk or stoned behind the wheel, an analysis by The Canadian Press has found. Government crash reports reveal that thousands of people who transport dangerous cargo put themselves — and others — at even greater risk by driving while impaired and not taking enough care on Canada's roads and rails.
Transport accident data brings issue of mandatory drug, alcohol test to light
By Steve Rennie, The Canadian Press
Truckers hauling explosive or flammable loads have killed and badly injured people after getting drunk or stoned behind the wheel, an analysis by The Canadian Press has found.
Government crash reports reveal that thousands of people who transport dangerous cargo put themselves — and others — at even greater risk by driving while impaired and not taking enough care on Canada's roads and rails.
These accidents are few compared to the many millions of safe shipments of dangerous goods in Canada every year. But they raise questions about why some drivers handling such hazardous cargo don't always take the greatest possible care.
Government officials record accidents in the Dangerous Goods Accident Information System when a spill or leak poses a danger to human health, property or the environment.
The Canadian Press obtained the database under the Access to Information Act.
An analysis found sleeping drivers, carelessness and negligence, speeding and handling cargo the wrong way are just some of the many reasons — besides drugs or booze — for thousands of crashes in the last 20 years.
The chief underlying factor in all accidents was the people involved. Over half of the database's 20,000 entries list "human" error as a factor. That's three times more than the runner-up, "equipment."
Leading causes of accidents were: Improperly loading, unloading and handling dangerous cargo, with 2,571 entries; drivers losing control of their vehicles, with 1,950 entries; and carelessness and negligence, with 1,746.
Impaired drivers caused 21 accidents and another 83 happened because drivers fell asleep at the wheel.
Transportation law in the United States requires drug and alcohol testing of all employees in safety-sensitive jobs in aviation, trucking, railroads, mass transit, pipelines and other industries.Even Canadian workers who bring goods into the U.S. must follow Department of Transportation regulations — including drug and alcohol tests.
Canada has no such drug- and alcohol-testing requirement. The head of a trucking association said the industry would welcome such testing.
"Drug and alcohol testing, as an industry we didn't have an issue with it — nor do we have it today," said Bob Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association.
"We don't need people under the influence or people using illegal drugs or prescription drugs inappropriately operating our vehicles on the roadway."
No one from Transport Canada was available for an interview.
Speeding caused another 162 crashes. Bad driving — including improper turns, not signalling, tailgating and ignoring stop signs and traffic lights — was to blame for 226 accidents.
Brought to you by eCompliance.ca - The leading provider of Compliance Management Solutions.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.