Drivers and vehicle owners are hauling cargo that is overweight, insecure, and in the case of one hazardous load, proper safety valving was absent.
Some of the drivers caught in a commercial vehicle check earlier this month in Langley were speeding, talking on a cellphone while driving, and failed to properly fill out forms.
Ten of 13 vehicle inspected were found to have violations under the federal and provincial transportation of dangerous goods laws and regulations. These violations included non-compliance with documentation, quantities of dangerous goods onboard, safety marks, load security, and means of containment.
The most serious violation involved a high hazard dangerous goods cargo tank which was found to have open internal self-closing valving.
Langley RCMP Traffic Services dedicated three days at the end of October to commercial vehicle inspections, in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE), Federal Dangerous Goods Inspectors (Transport Canada) and Fraser Valley Integrated Road Safety Unit.
Of the 2,141 commercial vehicles checked 129 were selected for further inspection. Of these, 10 vehicles passed, 59 required minor repairs and 60 required repairs before being allowed to proceed.
While the transportation ministry inspectors were more focused on commercial transport safety infractions, RCMP officers were checking both commercial and passenger vehicles.
The RCMP say that they will remain vigilant in their pursuit of impaired drivers as well as their commitment to public safety, making impaired driving by drugs and/or alcohol, and driving while fatigued a high priority during inspections.
Tickets and warnings were issued to 70 drivers for not wearing a seat belt, and 25 to those who were using a cell phone as they drove.
Eighteen drivers were given tickets for driver’s licence infractions, 11 were caught speeding, three had no insurance, and one was served notice of a driving ban.
Vehicle inspections were ordered for 67 vehicles, 13 drivers were ticketed for pre-trip and log-book violations, six for having an insecure load, and four for carrying a load that was too heavy.
Cpl. Holly Marks, who speaks for Langley RCMP, said that officers and inspectors were particularly concerned about the number of drivers distracted by cellphones, given that 47 per cent of traffic fatalities in the Lower Mainland are caused by cell phone use.
Marks added that there has been an increase in the number of serious injuries and/or fatal collisions involving commercial vehicles.
She noted, however, that despite the large number (273) of violation tickets issued “it is important to remember the overwhelming majority of vehicles checked were being operated in a professional manner.”