Quebec announced new measures aimed at increasing safety for heavy vehicle drivers. In the past month, three people in the province have been killed in collisions involving heavy vehicles, including a teen girl who was struck and killed by a semi in Saint-Hyacinthe while she was riding her bike. Quebec has already implemented mandatory training for obtaining a Class 1 driver’s licence, and now the Quebec auto insurance board (SAAQ) requires Ontarians with a Class 1 licence to pass practical exams before being licensed in Quebec. “This requirement applies to all drivers with less than 24 months of Class 1 driving experience,” a Quebec news release reads. “If they fail the practical exams twice, they will be required to complete mandatory training.” The temporary measure comes after a May 12 Ontario auditor general report that said training and licensing oversight needs to be strengthened. The government is also establishing a working group to develop a plan regarding temporary foreign workers operating heavy vehicles. Quebec would like more workers to adopt safe driving practices. “Road safety is paramount, and that is why we are implementing these two new measures,” said Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Benoit Charette. “We want to ensure that those on our roads are qualified to drive. These measures complement the mandatory training for operating heavy vehicles that our government implemented in Quebec last December.” Tragedy leads to policy The new policies come after Quebec’s public safety minister called for a public inquiry last year following a deadly crash in Boucherville that killed a 34-year-old mother and her five-year-old son. In October, the government began allowing highway patrol officers to carry guns, and inspectors began conducting targeted operations alongside Quebec provincial police (SQ) near the Ontario border. Later that month, a semi driver was injured after a pileup on Highway 25. In December, the mandatory training was implemented for those seeking a Class 1 licence and in June, it was announced that there is zero tolerance for alcohol for heavy-truck drivers with their learner’s permit.
