MLA rings alarm over truck incidents
Three confirmed rollovers, three confirmed fires over past three weeks
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Concern over a growing number of rollovers and vehicle fires involving large transport trucks supplying the diamond mines steered its way into the legislative assembly Monday.
The cab of a tractor trailer was destroyed by fire on the Ingraham Trail on Saturday afternoon. It was one of at least three truck fires in the Yellowknife area over the past three weeks. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo
No one was hurt but emergency crews and officials with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were called to the scene last Friday morning after a tanker rolled over on Drybones Drive near Deh Cho Boulevard. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne sought a commitment from Transportation Minister Wally Schumann to pursue a public safety communications plan after at least six incidents involving transport trucks on highways and roads around Yellowknife. The incidents include three tanker truck rollovers and three truck fires. No one has been injured in any of the incidents but the mishaps have led to lengthy road closures and detours and some small fuel spills.
"When this many incidents occur involving trucks on our roads it raises questions of public safety," said Vanthuyne.
"The Ingraham Trail is used not only by truckers. Residents of Dettah, people who live further down the trail and people who travel for aurora viewing, recreation or hunting are also regular users of the trail. For these people, in case of emergency, the trail is their only way in or out and their only access to assistance. These people need to know that their safety is a priority of this government. These incidents raise issues such as road maintenance, vehicle safety and driver training."
The incidents have come as 150 to 200 loads a day head north to resupply the diamond mines. There were also incidents reported on the winter road itself over the past few weeks – a rollover and a maintenance truck fire.
In a news release issued yesterday, Ron Near, director of the winter road stated the joint venture is working closely with authorities and transportation carriers to review the recent incidents.
"Our first priority is the safety of our people and the public," he stated.
Schumann said he has met with officials from the joint venture to discuss this latest rash of truck incidents.
"The number of fires in particular is very unusual. I think in the last five years there might have been one fire and it was out on the winter road section closer to one of the mines," Schumann said. "This is of particular concern. I believe the joint venture is going to have ongoing meetings with contractors … to try to get some kinds of conclusion as to what is causing these issues."
Blair Weatherby, owner of Weatherby Trucking in Yellowknife, is the past president of the now defunct NWT Motor Transport Association. He said truck fires are really just a fluke and no one is really to blame. Truck accidents, he added, are another story. He said he does not recall a string of incidents like this is such a short amount of time.
"It's an anomaly. With the amount (of cargo) they need in a short time, the type of drivers reflects that," said Weatherby.
"When trucks are falling over it's usually inexperience. DOT (Department of Transportation) can lay a charge. Not coupling the fifth wheel properly or driving off the road because drivers are fatigued – anything that could happen – it's a violation. Proving it though is a whole different thing."
Weatherby said drivers who crash might not be charged but they are still penalized because they face losing their jobs. He said that's the main incentive for drivers to operate safely and keep their rigs upright and on the road.
"The Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto Joint venture is super strict on speeds and control of vehicles," Weatherby said.
It is believed most drivers are paid by the load. Vanthuyne said he understands they are under the gun to get their loads to the mines quickly.
"I'm hearing that everybody's behind on their load counts," said Vanthuyne.
"There's probably more demand to go out and get drivers. Have these drivers been trained properly? Even if they are – it still comes down to experience.
"I'd like the minister to try to find out just what the heck is going on with this number of incidents. When there is one you can call it a one-off incident. But when there are six or seven incidents – I'm asking the minister if there is a trend. Is there concern with driver error? Is it our road conditions? We need to get to the root of that."
Vanthuyne said he is also concerned that people using the Ingraham Trail may not know what to do when they see an accident. Vanthuyne is calling for signs along the trail with one emergency number people on the highway call if they are in a crash or they come upon one. He added many people that drive on the Ingraham Trail, truckers from out of the territory and tourists alike, may not realize that the NWT doesn't have 911 and those people need to know what number to call.
